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DAYTON,    OHIO! 

UNITED  BRETHREN  PRINTING  HOUSE, 
1873. 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE. 

Bishops — Election  and  duties  of 41 

Building  of  Meeting-houses 74 

Burial  of  the  Dead 90 

Boundaries  of  Conferences 96 

Alleghany 98 

Anglaize loi 

California no 

Des  Moines,  East 109 

Des  Moines,  West 109 

Erie 98 

Fox  River ic8 

German,    East in 

Illinois 106 

Illinois  Central 107 

Indiana 104 

Iowa 108 

Iowa,  North 108 

Kansas no 

Michigan 103 

Missouri no 

Miami 102 

Minnesota 108 

Muskingum 99 

Nebraska no 

Oregon no 

Osage in 

Ontario no 

Ohio,  German in 

Ohio,  North 102 

Pennsylvania 97 

Parkersburg 105 

Pennsylvania,  East 97 

Rock    River 107 

Scioto 100 

St.  Joseph 103 

Sandusky 100 

Tennessee ^11 

Virginia 96 

,   Wabash,  Upper 106 

Wabash,  Lower 105 

White  River 103 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE. 

Walla  Walla no 

Western  Reserve 99 

Wisconsin 107 

Confession  of  Faith .  11 

Constitution  ..." .- 14 

Constitution  of  Missionary  Society 79 

Conference,  General 29 

"             Annual 32 

"            Quarterly 51 

Course  of  Reading 91 

"                  "          German 94 

Classes 22 

Charters 94 

Certificates 93 

Church -erection  Society 83 

Doctrinal  Publications 65 

Exhorters 24 

Elders — Election  of 44 

"          Duties  of 48 

"          Ordination  of 46 

"          Presiding 49 

Itinerancy — Organization  of 35 

Members — Reception  of 16 

Trial  of 57 

Marriage  Ceremony 88 

Origin  of  the  Church 5 

Official  Meetings 55 

Oaths 66 

Preachers — Reception  of 25 

"              Duties  of 28 

"              Itinerant — Duties  of 37 

"              Immoral  Conduct  of 60 

Printing  Establishment 86 

Salaries 62 

Sabbath-schools 69 

Secret  Societies 63 

Slavery 64 

Singing 78 

Temperance 66 

Union — Necessity  of 67 

Visiting 68 

War 6s 


O  HI  a  T  N 

OF  THE 

UNITED  BRETHREN  IN  CHRIST. 


In  the  eighteenth  century  it  pleased  the  Lord 
our  God  to  awaken  persons  in  different  parts 
of  the  world,  who  should  raise  up  the  Christian 
religion  from  its  fallen  state  and  preach  the 
gospel  of  Christ  crucified  in  its  purity. 

About  the  middle  of  the  said  century,  the 
Lord,  in  mercy,  remembered  the  Germans  in 
America,  who,  living  scattered  in  this  extensive 
country,  had  but  seldom  an  opportunity  to  hear 
the  gospel  of  a  crucified  Savior  preached  to 
them  in  their  native  language. 

Among  others,  he  raised  up  William  Ot- 
TERBEiN  and  Martin  Boehm,  in  the  State  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  George  A.  Geeting,  in  the 
State  of  Maryland,  armed  them  with  spirit, 
grace,  and  strength  to  labor  in  his  neglected 
vineyard,  and  to  call,  among  the  Germans  in 
America,  sinners  to  repentance.    These  men 

3 


6  DISCIPLINE. 

obeyed  the  call  of  their  Lord  and  Master. 
Their  labors  were  blest,  and  they  established 
in  many  places  excellent  societies  and  led 
many  precious  souls  to  Jesus  Christ.  Their 
sphere  of  action  spread  more  and  more,  so 
that  they  found  it  necessary  to  look  about  for 
more  fellow-laborers  to  engage  in  the  vineyard 
of  the  Lord,  for  the  harvest  was  great  and  the 
laborers  but  few.  The  Lord  called  others,  who 
were  willing  to  devote  their  strength  to  his 
service.  Such,  then,  were  accepted  by  one  or 
other  of  the  preachers  as  fellow-laborers. 

The  number  of  members  in  the  society  in 
different  parts  of  the  country  continued  to  in- 
crease from  time  to  time,  and  the  gracious 
work  of  reformation  spread  through  the  states 
of  Pennsylvania,  Maryland,  and  Virginia. 
Several  great  meetings  were  appointed  and 
held  annually.  On  such  occasions  Otter- 
BEIN  would  hold  particular  conversations  with 
the  preachers  then  present,  and  represent  to 
them  the  importance  of  the  ministry  and  the 
necessity  of  their  utmost  endeavors  to  save 
souls.  At  one  of  these  meetings  it  was  re- 
solved to  hold  a  conference  with  all  the  preach- 
ers, in  order  to  take  into  consideration  how, 
and  in  what  manner,  they  might  be  most  use- 
ful. 


DISCIPLINE.  7 

The  first  conference  was  held  in  the  city  of 
Baltimore,  Maryland,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord, 
1789.    The  following  preachers  were  present: 
Wm.  Otterbein,         Adam  Lehman, 
Martin  Boehm,  John  Ernst, 

Geo.  a.  Geeting,        Henry  Weidner, 

Christian  Newcomer. 
The  second  conference  was  held  in  Paradise 
Township,  York  County,  Pennsylvania,  at  the 
house  of  Bro.  Spangler,  in  the  year  of  our 
Lord,    1791.      The   following  preachers  were 
present : 
Wm.  Otterbein,       John  Ernst, 
Martin  Boehm,        J..G.  Pfrimmer, 
Geo.  a.  Geeting,     John  Neidig, 
Ch'n.  Newcomer,      Benedict  Sanders, 

Adam  Lehman. 
After  mature  deliberation  how  they  might 
labor  most  usefully  in  the  vineyard  of  the 
Lord,  they  again  appointed  such  as  fellow* 
laborers  whom  they  had  cause  to  believe  had 
experienced  true  religion  in  their  souls. 

In  the  meantime  the  number  of  members 
continued  to  increase,  and  the  preachers  were 
obliged  to  appoint  an  annual  conference,  in 
order  to  unite  them_selves  more  closely  and  to 
labor  more  successfully  in  the  vineyard  of  the 
Lord;   for  soma  had   been   Presbyterians  or 


8  DISCIPLINE. 

German  Reformed,  some  Lutherans,  and  others 
Mennonites.  They  accordingly  appointed  a 
conference  to  be  held  on  the  25th  of  Septem- 
ber, 1800,  in  Frederick  County,  Maryland,  at 
the  house  of  Bro.  Frederick  Kemp.  The 
following  preachers  were  present : 
Wm.  Otterbein,  Christian  Krum, 

Martin  Boehm,  Henry  Krum, 

Geo.  a.  Geeting,  John  Hershey, 

Ch'n.  Newcomer,        Jacob  Geisinger, 
Adam  Lehman,  Henry  Boehm, 

Abraham  Tracksel,  Diet'k  Aurand, 

J.  G.  Pfrimmer. 
There  they  united  themselves  into  a  society 
which  bears  the  name  "  United  Brethren 
IN  Christ,"  and  elected  Wm.  Otterbein  and 
Martin  Boehm  as  superintendents  or  bishops, 
and  agreed  that  each  of  them  should  be  at 
liberty  as  to  the  mode  and  manner  of  baptism, 
to  perform  it  according  to  his  own  convictions. 
From  this  time,  the  society  increasing  still 
more  and  more,  preachers  were  appointed  to 
travel  regularly,  inasmuch  as  the  number  of 
preaching  places  could  not  otherwise  be  at- 
tended to  ;  and  the  work  spread  itself  into  the 
states  of  Ohio  and  Kentucky.  It  then  became 
necessary  to  appoint  a  conference  in  the  State 
of  Ohio,  because  it  was  conceived  too  laborious 


DISCIPLINE.  9 

for  the  preachers  who  labored  in  those  states 
to  travel  annually  such  a  great  distance  to  con- 
ference. 

In  the  meantime  Brothers  Boehm  and  Geet- 
ING  died,  and  Brother  Otterbein  desired  that 
another  bishop  should  be  elected  (because  in- 
firmity and  old  age  would  not  permit  him  to 
superintend  any  longer),  who  should  take 
charge  of  the  society,  and  preserve  discipline 
and  order.  It  was  resolved  at  a  former  con- 
ference that  whenever  one  of  the  bishops  died 
another  should  be  elected  in  his  place  :  ac- 
cordingly, Brother  Christian  Newcomer  was 
elected  bishop,  to  take  charge  of  and  superin- 
tend the  concerns  of  the  society. 

The  want  of  a  discipline  in  the  society  had 
long  been  deeply  felt,  and  partial  attempts  hav- 
ing been  made  at  different  times,  it  was  resolved, 
at  the  conference  held  in  the  State  of  Ohio, 
that  a  general  conference  should  be  held  in 
order  to  accomplish  the  same,  in  a  manner  not 
derogatory  to  the  word  of  God.  The  mem- 
bers of  this  conference  were  to  be  elected  from 
among  the  preachers  in  the  different  parts  of 
the  country,  by  a  vote  of  the  society  in  gene- 
ral.   The  following  brethren  were  duly  elected : 

Ch'n  Newcomer,         Daniel  Troyer, 

Abr'm  Heistand,        Geo.  Benedum, 


10  DISCIPLINE. 

Andrew  Zeller,        Abr'm  Tracksel, 
Christian  Berger,    Henry  G.  Spayth, 
Abraham  Myer,         I.  Nighswanger, 
John  Schneider,        Christian  Krum, 
Henry  Kumler,         Jacob  Bowlus. 
The  conference  convened  on  the  6th  of  June, 
1815,   near    Mount    Pleasant,    Westmoreland 
County,  Pennsylvania.    After  mature  delibera- 
tion, they  presented  to  their  brethren  a  disci- 
pline, containing  the  doctrine  and  rules  of  the 
Church,  desiring  that   they,  together  with   the 
word  of  God,  should  be  strictly  observed. 

God  is  a  God  of  order,  but  where  there  is  no 
order  nor  church  discipline  the  spirit  of  love 
and  charity  will  be  lost. 

Therefore,  brethren,  v/e  beseech  you  to  fol- 
low the  example  of  our  Lord,  as  it  is  written, 
"  Be  kindly  affectioned  one  to  another  with 
brotherly  love ;  in  honor  preferring  one 
another.  Let  the  mind  be  in  you  which  was 
in  Christ,  v/ho  took  upon  him  the  form  of  a 
servant,  humbled  himself,  and  became  obe- 
dient unto  death,  even  the  death  of  the  cross,'* 
that  by  his  grace  we  may  submit  ourselves  one 
to  another  in  the  fear  of  God,  He  who  will 
not  submit  is  in  want  of  humble  love.  Jesus 
said,  "Whosoever  will  be  chief  among  you, 
let  him  be  your  servant.    By  this  shall  all  men 


DISCIPLINE.  11 

know  that  ye  are  my  disciples,  if  ye  have  love 
one  to  another ;  and  whoso  loveth  not  his 
brother  abideth  in  death."  Let  us  walk  in 
newness  of  life,  that  the  prayer  of  our  Lord 
may  be  answered  in  us  ;  that  we  may  be  one 
in  him,  and  that  he  may  give  us  the  glory 
which  he  gave  to  his  disciples,  that  we  may  be 
one  even  as  he  and  the  Father  are  one. 
Therefore,  beloved  brethren,  let  us  strive  to  be 
like-minded,  having  the  same  love,  being  of 
one  accord,  of  one  mind.  Let  no  one  speak 
or  think  evil  of  his  brother,  but  pray  God  that 
he  may  grant  us  his  Spirit  and  an  earnest  de- 
sire to  lead  a  truly  devoted  life,  to  the  honor 
and  glory  of  his  holy  name.     Amen. 

SECTION    I. 

CONFESSION   OF    FAITH. 

In  the  name  of  God  we  declare  and  confess 
before  all  men,  that  we  believe  in  the  only  true 
God,  the  Father,  the  Son  and  the  Holy  Ghost, 
that  these  three  are  one :  the  Father  in  the 
Son,  the  Son  in  the  Father,  and  the  Holy 
Ghost  equal  in  essence  or  being  with  both  ; 
that  this  triune  God  created  the  heavens  and 
the  earth,  and  all  that  in  them  is,  visible  as 


12  DISCIPLINE. 

well  as  invisible,  and  furthermore  sustains, 
governs,  protects,  and  supports  the  same. 

We  believe  in  Jesus  Christ;  that  he  is  very 
God  and  man  ;  that  he  became  incarnate  by 
the  power  of  the  Holy  Ghost  in  the  Virgin 
Mary,  and  was  born  of  her ;  that  he  is  the 
Savior  and  Mediator  of  the  whole  human  race, 
if  they  with  full  faith  in  him  accept  the  grace 
proffered  in  Jesus  ;  that  this  Jesus  suffered  and 
died  on  the  cross  for  us,  was  buried,  arose 
again  on  the  third  day,  ascended  into  heaven, 
and  sitteth  on  the  right  hand  of  God,  to  inter- 
cede for  us  ;  and  that  he  shall  come  again  at 
the  last  day,  to  judge  the  quick  and  the  dead. 

We  believe  in  the  Holy  Ghost ;  that  he  is 
equal  in  being  with  the  Father  and  the  Son, 
and  that  he  comforts  the  faithful,  and  guides 
them  into  all  truth. 

We  believe  in  a  holy  Christian  church,  the 
communion  of  saints,  the  resurrection  of  the 
body,  and  life  everlasting. 

We  believe  that  the  Holy  Bible,  Old  and 
New  Testament,  is  the  word  of  God ;  that  it 
contains  the  only  true  way  to  our  salvation  ; 
that  every  true  Christian  is  bound  to  acknowl- 
edge and  receive  it  with  the  influence  of  the 
Spirit  of  God,  as  the  only  rule  and  guide  ;  and 
that  without  faith  in  Jesus  Christ,  true  repent- 


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/^^>  '    '-' 


/>^^ 


,    ,  IJISCIPLINE.  13 

ance,  forgiveness  of  sins,  and  following  after 
Christ,  no  one  can  be  a  true  Christian. 

We  also  believe  that  what  is  contained  in 
the  Holy  Scriptures,  to-wit :  the  fall  in  Adam 
and  redemption  through  Jesus  Christ,  shall  be 
preached  throughout  the  world. 

We  believe  that  the  ordinances^  viz  :  baptism 
and  the  remembrance  of  the  sufferings  and 
death  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  are  to  be  in  use, 
and  practiced  by  all  Christian  societies ;  and 
that  it  is  incumbent  on  all  the  children  of  God 
particularly  to  practice  them  ;  but  the  manner 
in  which  ought  always  to  be  left  to  the  judg- 
ment and  understanding  of  every  individual. 
Also  the  example  of  washing  feet  is  left  to  the 
judgment  of  every  one,  to  practice  or  not :  but 
it  is  not  becoming  for  any  of  our  preachers  or 
members  to  traduce  any  of  their  brethren 
whose  judgment  and  understanding  in  these 
respects  is  different  from  their  own,  either  in 
public  or  private.  Whosoever  shall  make  him- 
self guilty  in  this  respect,  shall  be  considered  a 
traducer  of  his  brethren,  and  shall  be  answer- 
able for  the  same. 


14  DISCIPLINE. 

SECTION    II. 

CONSTITUTION. 

We,  the  members  of  the  Church  of  the 
United  Brethren  in  Christ,  in  the  name  of 
God,  do,  for  the  perfecting  of  the  saints,  for 
the  work  of  the  ministry,  for  the  edifying  of 
the  body  of  Christ,  as  well  as  to  produce  and 
secure  a  uniform  mode  of  action,  in  faith  and 
practice,  also  to  define  the  powers  and  the 
business  of  quarterly,  annual  and  general  con- 
ferences, as  recognized  by  this  Church,  ordain 
the  following  articles  of  Constitution. 

ARTICLE    I. 

Section  i.  All  ecclesiastical  power  herein 
granted,  to  make  or  repeal  any  rule  of  disci- 
pline, is  vested  in  a  general  conference,  which 
shall  consist  of  elders,  elected  by  the  members 
in  every  conference  district  throughout  the  so- 
ciety ;  provided,  however,  such  elders  shall 
have  stood  in  that  capacity  three  years,  in  the 
conference  district  to  which  they  belong. 

Sec.  2.  General  Conference  is  to  be  held 
every  four  years ;  the  bishops  to  be  considered 
members  and  presiding  officers. 


DISCIPLINE.  15 

Sec.  3.  Each  annual  conference  shall  place 
before  the  society  the  names  of  all  the  elders 
eligible  to  membership  in  the  General  Confer- 
ence. 

ARTICLE    II. 

Section  i.  The  General  Conference  shall 
define  the  boundaries  of  the  annual  confer- 
ences. 

Sec.  2.  The  General  Conference  shall,  at 
every  session,  elect  bishops  from  among  the 
elders  throughout  the  Church,  who  have  stood 
six  years  in  that  capacity. 

Sec.  3.  The  business  of  each  annual  con- 
ference shall  be  done  strictly  according  t§ 
Discipline  ;  and  any  annual  conference  acting 
contrary  thereunto,  shall,  by  impeachment,  be 
tried  by  the  General  Conference. 

fSEC.  4.  No  rule  or  ordinance  shall  at  any 
time  be  passed,  to  change  or  do  away  the  Con- 
fession of  Faith  as  it  now  stands,  nor  to  destroy 
the  itinerant  plan. 

Sec.  5.  There  shall  no  rule  be  adopted  that 
will  infringe  upon  the  rights  of  any  as  it  relates 
to  the  mode  of  baptism,  the  sacrament  of  the 
Lord's  supper,  or  the  washing  of  feet. 

Sec.  6.  There  shall  be  no  rule  made  that 
will  deprive  local  preachers  of  their  votes  in 


16  DISCIPLINE. 

the  annual  conferences  to  which  they  severally 
belong.  ^ 

Sec.  7.  There  shall  be  no  connection  with  \ 
secret  combinations,  nor  shall  involuntary  serv-  - 
itude  be  tolerated  in  any  way. 

Sec  8.  The  right  of  appeal  shall  be  invio- 
late. 

ARTICLE    111. 

The  right,  title,  interest,  and  claim  of  all 
property,  whether  consisting  in  lots  of  ground, 
meeting-houses,  legacies,  bequests  or  dona- 
tions of  any  kind,  obtained  by  purchase  or 
otherwise,  by  any  person  or  persons,  for  the 
use,  benefit,  and  behoof  of  the  Church  of  the 
United  Brethren  in  Christ,  is  hereby  fully  rec- 
ognized and  held  to  be  the  property  of  the 
Church  aforesaid. 

ARTICLE    IV. 

There  shall  be  no  alteration  of  the  foregoing 
constitution,  unless  by  request  of  two  thirds  of 
the  whole  society. 

SECTION    III. 

RECEPTION  AND  DUTIES  OF   MEMBERS. 

Ques.  How  shall  members  be  taken  into  our 
society  ? 


DISCIPLINE.  17 

Ans.  When  at  any  meeting  a  person  makes 
known  a  design  to  become  a  member  of  our 
society,  then  the  preacher  present  shall  ask 
such  person  the  following  questions  : 

1.  Do  you  believe  the  Bible  to  be  the  word 
of  God  ? 

2.  Have  you  experienced  the  pardon  of  your 
sins,  and  are  you  determined  by  the  grace  of 
God  to  save  your  soul  ? 

3.  Have  you  been  baptized  ?  If  the  answer 
is,  I  have  not,  then  the  preacher  shall  advise 
the  person  to  attend  to  that  duty  as  soon  as 
practicable. 

4.  Are  you  willing  to  be  governed  by  our 
Church  discipline  ? 

1.  If  the  person  answer  the  above  questions 
in  the  affirmative,  and  no  lawful  objections  be 
made  by  any  member  on  account  of  immoral 
conduct,  then  the  preacher  shall  give  his  right 
hand  to  such  person  as  a  member  of  our  so- 
ciety, and  record  the  name  on  the  church  or 
class  book ;  but  so  long  as  any  person  can  not 
answer  the  above  questions  in  the  affirmative, 
such  person  shall  not  be  considered  in  full 
membership,  and  shall  have  no  vote  in  the  so- 
ciety. 

2.  If  any  persons  thus  received  under  the 

watch-care  of  the  Church  shall  cease  to  mani- 
2 


18  DISCIPLINE. 

fest  a  desire  to  seek  the  Lord,  the  preacher  in 
charge,  by  the  consent  of  the  class,  can,  at  any 
time,  after  personal  labor  for  their  salvation  by 
the  preacher  in  charge  and  class-leader,  if  un- 
successful, publicly  drop  the  name  of  such 
seekers. 

3.  All  members  of  this  society  shall  ac- 
knowledge and  confess  that  they  believe  the 
Bible  to  be  the  word  of  God ;  that  they  will 
henceforth  strive,  with  all  their  hearts,  to  seek 
their  eternal  welfare  in  Christ  Jesus,  and  work 
out  their  salvation  with  fear  and  trembling,  to 
the  end  that  they  may  be  enabled  to  fiee  frofn 
the  wrath  to  come. 

4.  Every  member  shall  endeavor  to  lead  a 
good  life  ;  be  diligent  in  prayer,  particularly 
in  private,  and,  for  his  own  edification,  attend, 
when  practicable,  all  of  our  prayer  and  class 
meetings,  and  meetings  for  public  worship. 

5.  Heads  of  families  should  never  omit  to 
pray  with  their  families,  mornings* and  even- 
ings, and  set  them  a  good  example  in  all  the 
Christian  virtues. 

6.  Every  one  should  strive  to  walk  as  in  the 
presence  of  God ;  also,  accustom  himself  to  a 
close  communion  with  God  in  all  his  employ- 
ments, and  never  speak  evil  of  his  fellow-be- 
ings^  but  practice  love  toward  friend  and  foe  , 


DISCIPLINE.  19 

do  good  to  the  poor,  and  endeavor  to  be  a  fol- 
lower of  Jesus  Christ  indeed. 

7.  Every  one  shall  keep  the  Sabbath-day- 
holy,  as  required  in  the  word  of  God ;  neither 
buy  nor  sell,  but  spend  the  same  in  exercises 
of  devotion,  in  reading  and  hearing  the  word 
of  God,  and  with  singing  spiritual  hymns  to  the 
honor  and  glory  of  God. 

8.  It  is  the  duty  of  every  member  to  lead  a 
quiet,  peaceable,  and  godly  life  among  men, 
as  it  becomes  a  Christian  to  live  in  peace,  and 
be  subject  to  the  higher  or  ruling  powers,  as 
the  word  of  God  requires. 

-9.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  all  our  members  to 
encourage  our  Sabbath-schools  by  their  pres- 
ence when  practicable,  and  always  lend  them 
their  aid  and  influence. 

10.  It  is  the  duty  of  all  members  of  the 
Church  to  pay  toward  the  support  of  the  itin- 
erant ministry,  quarterly,  or  oftener  if  need  be, 
in  proportion  to  their  ability,  as  God  has  pros- 
pered them  ;  for  the  Lord  hath  ordained  that 
they  who  preach  the  gospel  shall  live  by  the 
gospel.    I.  Cor.    ix.    14;    I.  Tim.  v.  18, 

11.  Each  member  of  our  society  should  will- 
ingly and  freely  contribute  quarterly,  or 
oftener,  if    need   be,  as   God  has    prospered 


20  DISCIPLINE. 

him   or  her  (I.  Cor.  xvi.  2),  to  the  support  of 
the  helpless  poor. 

12.  When  it  is  known  by  any  of  our  class- 
leaders  that  there  are  poor  members  among 
them,  who  by  sickness,  accident,  or  other  una- 
voidable circumstances  have  been  brought  to 
want,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  leader  in 
charge  to  go,  or  appoint  one  to  wait  upon  the 
class,  to  ask  alms,  money,  clothing,  or  produce, 
as  the  circumstances  may  require  ;  and  should 
any  one  class  be  too  poor  to  alleviate  its  poor, 
it  shall  then  be  made  known  to  the  pastor  in 
charge,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  inform  the  dif- 
ferent classes  on  his  charge ;  and  if  it  should 
so  happen  that  any  one  charge  should  be  in- 
sufficient to  meet  the  wants  of  its  poor,  it  shall 
be  the  duty  of  the  presiding  elder  to  present 
the  matter  on  the  different  charges  at  their 
quarterly  conferences,  so  that  the  unavoidably 
poor  of  our  Church  may  be  considered  and 
provided  for.     I.  John,  iii.    17  ;  Ps.  xli.    i,  2. 

Inasmuch  as  the  Lord  has  commanded  us 
not  to  be  conformed  to  this  world  (Rom.  xii. 
2),  to  lay  apart  all  filthiness,  and  superfluity  of 
naughtiness  (James  i.  21),  and  as  the  princi- 
ples of  the  Christian  religion,  as  taught  both 
by  the  precepts  and  example  of  the  meek  and 
adorable  Savior,  are  in  strict  and  perfect  ac- 


DISCIPLINE.  21 

cordance  with  these  commandments,  we  there- 
fore humbly  beseech  and  admonish  the  members 
of  our  Church  to  observe  these  divine  precepts : 
In  hke  manner  also  that  women  adorn  them- 
selves in  modest  apparel,  with  shamefacedness 
and  sobriety ;  not  with  broidered  hair,  or  gold, 
or  pearls,  or  costly  array,  but  (which  becometh 
women  professing  godliness)  with  good  works. 
I.  Tim.  ii.  9,  10;  and  whose  adorning  let  it  not 
be  that  outward  adorning  of  plaiting  the  hair, 
and  of  wearing  of  gold,  or  of  putting  on  of 
apparel ;  but  let  it  be  the  hidden  man  of  the 
heart,  in  that  which  is  not  corruptible,  even  the 
ornament  of  a  meek  and  quiet  spirit,  which  is 
in  the  sight  of  God  of  great  price.     I.  Pet.  iii, 

The  foregoing  rules  are  drawn  up  for  the 
better  regulation  of  our  Church ;  and  we  be- 
lieve they  are  founded  in  the  word  of  God,  and 
incumbent  on  all  who  are  members  of  our 
Church  to  observe.  Should  any  violate  or 
habitually  neglect  these  rules,  they  shall  be, 
by  their  respective  class-leaders,  admonished 
to  reformation  ;  and  should  they  not  reform, 
they  shall  be  suspended  or  expelled,  as  the 
case  may  require. 

It  is  the  advice  of  the  General  Conference 
that  all  districts,  stations,   circuits,   and   mis- 


22  DISCIPLINE. 

sions  cheerfully  receive  the  preachers  appoint- 
ed by  the  stationing  committee  of  the  respective 
annual  conferences. 

BECTION    IV 

CLASSES. 

1.  A  class  shall  consist  of  three  or  more 
members,  who  shall  annually  elect  one  mem- 
ber from  their  own  or  some  other  class,  who 
shall  be  called  their  leader,  and  shall  be  elected 
before  the  ensuing  annual  conferences. 

2.  Classes  shall  be  divided  by  a  committee, 
consisting  of  the  preacher  in  charge,  and  one 
or  more  brethren,  elected  by  the  Church  or 
class  at  any  place  where  it  may  be  deemed 
necessary. 

3.  In  case  it  becomes  impracticable  to  keep 
up  an  organization  by  the  election  of  class 
officers,  the  members  at  such  place  shall  be  re- 
quired to  join  the  nearest  class  within  six 
months ;  and  any  one  failing  to  do  so  may  be 
dropped. 

Ques.  What  are  the  duties  of  a  leader  ? 

Ans.  I.  It  shall  be  his  duty  to  meet  his  class, 
in  class  or  prayer  meeting,  at  least  once  a 
week,  to  speak  to  them  concerning  the  spiritual 
welfare  of  their  souls,  and  exhort  them  to  unity 


DISCIPLINE.  23 

and  love.  He  shall  extend  the  freedom  of  our 
prayer  and  class  meetings  to  all  sincere  and 
well-disposed  persons  who  may  desire  to  attend 
them. 

Ans.  2.  It  shall  be  his  duty  to  lead  a  pious 
life  and  set  a  godly  example  before  his  class ; 
carefully  study  the  Holy  Scriptures,  fully  quali- 
fying himself  for  the  faithful  performance  of 
his  duties  as  leader  and  counselor  of  his  class. 
When  any  of  his  members  are  sick  or  delin- 
quent in  the  performance  of  any  of  their  duties 
as  Christians  he  shall  visit  them,  pray,  or  other- 
wise labor  with  them,  as  circumstances  may 
require. 

Any  class-leader  failing  to  discharge  these 
duties  may,  on  complaint,  be  removed  by  the 
quarterly  conference. 

2.  Every  class  shall  annualy  elect  (or,  if  the 
class  prefer  it,  the  preacher  may  appoint)  one 
who  shall  be  called  class-steward, 

Ques.     What  are  the  duties  of  a  steward  ? 

A?is.  I.  He  shall  collect  quarterly  contribu- 
tions, or  oftener  than  quarterly,  if  needed,  for 
the  support  of  the  traveling  preachers.  He 
shall  keep  an  accurate  account  of  the  amount 
paid  by  each  member  of  the  class,  in  a  book 
provided  for  that  purpose,  and  report  the  same 


24  DISCIPLINE. 

to  each  quarterly  conference  or  official  meet- 
ing. 

2.  It  shall  also  be  his  duty  to  provide  the 
elements  for  sacrament. 

3.  For  the  faithful  discharge  of  his  duties  as 
steward  of  his  class,  he  shall  be  accountable 
to  the  quarterly  conference,  which  shall  have 
power  to  dismiss  him  for  official  delinquency. 

SECTION    V. 

EXHORTERS. 

Ques.  How  are  exhorters  received  ? 

Ans.  Any  person  wishing  to  obtain  license 
to  exhort  or  preach  must  obtain  from  the  class 
of  which  he  is  a  member,  by  a  vote  of  two 
thirds  of  the  members,  a  recommendation  in 
writing,  signed  by  the  leader,  or  preacher  in 
charge,  to  the  quarterly  conference  of  the  cir- 
cuit, station,  or  mission  to  which  he  belongs. 

Ques.  What  are  the  duties  of  exhorters  ? 

Ans.  To  make  appointments  wherever  ac- 
ceptable to  the  people  ;  read  portions  of  sacred 
Scripture,  exhorting  therefrom ;  exhorting 
saints,  that  they  with  purpose  of  heart  should 
cleave  to  the  Lord,  and  sinners  to  flee  from 
the  wrath  to  come ;  and  this  they  shall  do  as 
often  as  practicable 


DISCIPLINE.  25 

SECTION    VI. 

RECEPTION    OF    PREACHERS    BY    ANNUAL 
CONFERENCE. 

Qiies.  How  are  preachers  received  ? 

Ans.  Every  person  proposed  as  a  preacher 
shall  be  examined  by  the  annual  conference 
or  a  select  committee  thereof;  and  the  follow- 
ing questions  shall  be  asked  him  : 

1.  Have  you  known  God  in  Christ  Jesus  to 
be  a  sin-pardoning  God  ? 

2.  Have  you  now  peace  with  God ;  and  is 
the  love  of  God  shed  abroad  in  your  heart  by 
the  Holy  Spirit  ? 

3.  Do  you  believe  the  Bible  to  be  the  word 
of  God,  and  that  theirein  is  contained  the  only 
true  way  to  our  salvation  ? 

4.  What  foundation  have  you  for  such  be- 
lief? 

5.  Do  you  follow  after  holiness  ? 

6.  What  is  your  motive  for  desiring  permis- 
sion to  preach  the  gospel  ? 

7.  Do  you  believe  that  man,  apart  from  the 
grace  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  is  fallen  from 
original  righteousness,  and  is  not  only  entirely 
destitute  of  holiness,  but  is  inclined  to  evil, 
and  only  evil,  and  that  continually ;  and  that 


26  DISCIPLINE. 

except  a  man  be  born  again  he  can  not  see  the 
kingdom  of  God  ? 

8.  What  is  your  knowledge  of  redemption, 
of  faith,  of  repentance,  justification,  and  sanc- 
tification  ? 

9.  Does  your  own  salvation,  and  the  salva- 
tion of  your  fellow-mortals,  lie  nearer  to  your 
heart  than  all  other  things  in  the  world  ? 

10.  Will  you  subject  yourself  to  the  counsel 
of  your  brethren  ? 

11.  Are  you  satisfied  with  our  Church  gov- 
ernment ? 

12.  Are  you  willing,  as  much  as  is  in  your 
power,  to  assist  in  upholding  the  itinerant 
plan  ? 

None  can  be  admitted  without  having  a 
recommendation  from  the  quarterly  confer- 
ence, and  then  only  to  be  received  on  proba- 
tion ;  but  if  conference  should,  on  examination, 
find  that  his  abilities  are  insufficient  to  preach 
the  gospel,  it  may  refer  him  back  to  the  quar- 
terly conference,  for  further  instruction. 

When  a  preacher  or  elder  has  been  expelled 
from  one  annual  conference,  he  shall  not  be 
received  into  another  without  the  consent  of 
the  conference  from  which  he  has  been  ex- 
pelled. 

A  preacher  removing  from  one  conference 


DISCIPLINE.  27 

to  another  shall,  when  he  applies  to  another 
for  admission,  produce  a  transfer  from  the  con- 
ference to  which  he  formerly  belonged,  signed 
by  the  presiding  officer,  or  published  in  the 
minutes  of  the  conference  from  which  he  has 
been  transferred. 

A  preacher  or  elder  who  receives  a  transfer 
is  required  to  present  said  transfer  to  another 
conference,  or  return  it  to  the  conference  by 
which  it  was  issued,  within  eighteen  months 
after  its  date.  Otherwise  the  transfer  shall  be 
null  and  void,  and  the  name  of  the  preacher 
shall  be  published  as  no  longer  connected  with 
the  Church  as  a  minister. 

Provided,  preachers  taking  transfers  to  the 
Pacific  coast  shall  be  allowed  two  years  in 
which  to  present  their  transfers. 

A  preacher  or  elder  receiving  a  transfer 
shall  be  a  member  of  the  quarterly  conference 
in  whose  bounds  he  may  reside,  and  also  be 
accountable  for  his  moral  and  official  conduct 
to  the  annual  conference  granting  said  trans- 
fer until  his  transfer  be  received  by  the  con- 
ference to  which  he  has  been  transferred. 


28  DIS\:iPLINE. 

SECTION   VII. 

PREACHERS'  DUTIES. 

Ques.  What  are  the  duties  of  preachers  ? 

Ans.  To  preach  Christ  crucified,  form  classes, 
and  report  the  same  to  the  annual  conferences; 
converse  with  the  members  on  the  spiritual 
condition  of  their  souls;  administer  relief; 
strengthen  and  direct  those  that  are  afflicted 
and  labor  under  temptations ;  animate  the  in- 
dolent ;  endeavor  as  much  as  possible  to  edify 
and  instruct  all  in  faith,  in  grace,  and  in  the 
knowledge  of  Jesus  Christ ;  visit  the  sick  on  all 
occasions ;  strive  to  enforce  and  confirm  the 
doctrine  they  deliver  by  a  well-ordered  and 
exemplary  life. 

Ques.  What  are  the  directions  given  to  our 
preachers  ? 

Ans.  I.  Be  diligent.  Never  trifle  away  your 
time.  Always  be  serious.  Let  your  motto  be, 
"  Holiness  unto  the  Lord  !"  Avoid  all 
lightness  and  jesting;  converse  sparingly; 
conduct  yourself  prudently  with  women  ;  and 
demean  yourself  in  all  respects  as  a  true  Chris- 
tian. Be  at  all  times  averse  to  crediting  evil 
reports ;  believe  evil  of  no  one  without  good 
evidence.  Put  the  best  construction  on  every- 
thing. 


DISCIPLINE.  29 

2.  Speak  evil  of  no  one.  Whatever  may  be 
your  thoughts,  keep  them  within  your  own 
breast  until  you  can  tell  the  person  concerned 
what  you  think  wrong  in  his  conduct. 

3.  Let  your  business  be  to  save  as  many 
souls  as  possible.  To  this  employment  give 
yourself  "up  wholly.  Visit  those  who  need  it ; 
and  act  in  all  things,  not  according  to  your 
own  wills,  but  as  sons  in  the  gospel ;  for  as 
such  it  becomes  your  duty  to  employ  your  time 
in  the  manner  prescribed,  in  preaching,  and 
visiting  from  house  to  house ;  in  instruction 
and  prayer,  and  in  meditating  on  the  word  of 
God.  With  these  be  occupied  until  our  Lord 
Cometh. 

No  preacher  shall  arbitrarily  form  a  mission 
or  circuit  within  the  embrace  of  any  circuit  or 
presiding  elder's  district ;  and  any  preacher 
violating  the  provisions  of  this  clause  shall  be 
amenable  to  his  quarterly  or  annual  confer- 
ence. 

SECTION    VIII. 

GENERAL  CONFERENCE. 

Ques.  I.  Who  are  the  members  of  the  Gen- 
eral Conference.     [See  constitution.) 

Ques.  2.  What  shall  be  the  number  of  dele- 
gates to  the  General  Conference  ? 


30  DISCIPLINE. 

Ajts.  Three  from  each  annual-conference 
district. 

Qiies.  3.  How  are  they  to  be  elected? 

Atis.  I.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  each  annual 
conference  to  appoint  a  committee  of  three  to 
receive  and  count  the  votes,  and  immediately 
apprise  those  who  may  have  been  elected ; 
also  to  furnish  each  preacher  in  charge  with  a 
list  of  the  names  of  all  the  elders  eligible. 

2.  Thc/preacher  in  charge  shall  furnish  each 
class-leader  or  steward  in  his  charge  with  a 
copy  of  the  above  named  list,  at  least  ten 
months  before  the  sitting  of  General  Confer- 
ence, and  the  election  shall  be  held  invariably 
within  the  month  of  November,  next  preced- 
ing the  sitting  of  the  said  conference. 

3.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  each  class-leader 
or  steward  to  appoint  a  meeting  of  the  mem- 
bers of  his  class,  for  the  purpose  of  electing, 
by  ballot  or  otherwise,  their  delegates  to  repre- 
sent them  in  General  Conference.  Should  any 
be  incapacitated,  by  affliction  or  age,  to  attend 
such  meetings,  they  may  send  their  ballots, 
containing  the  names  of  the  candidates  of  their 
choice,  and  their  own  names  signed  on  the 
back  of  their  ballots. 

4.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  each  class-leader 
or  steward  to  sign,  inclose,  and  seal  each  bill 


DISCIPLINE.  31 

of  election,  and  keep  a  correct  copy  of  the 
same,  stating  what  class  and  circuit,  and  im- 
mediately transmit  it  (prepaid)  to  the  commit- 
tee appointed  by  the  annual  conference. 

5.  Said  committee  shall  make  out  a  list  of 
all  the  persons  voted  for,  and  of  the  number 
of  votes  for  each.  And  should  any  two  or 
more  of  the  candidates  have  an  equal  number 
of  votes,  the  committee  shall  determine,  by 
lot,  which  of  them  is  elected.  They  shall  also 
forward,  by  the  first  of  February,  the  names  of 
those  elected  to  the  Conference  Printing  Es- 
tablishment for  publication ;  and  if  one  or  more 
of  those  elected  should  be  prevented,  by  death, 
sickness,  or  otherwise,  from  attending,  it  shall 
be  the  duty  of  the  tellers  to  notify  the  next 
highest  on  the  bill  to  take  his  place ;  and  so 
descend,  if  need  be,  to  the  last  candidate.  All 
bills  of  election  received  by  the  tellers  after  the 
first  of  February  shall  not  be  counted. 

Ques.  4.  How  shall  the  expenses  of  the  dele- 
gates to  the  General  Conference  be  defrayed  ? 

Ans.  The  annual  conference  next  preceding 
the  election  of  delegates  to  the  General  Con- 
ference shall  ascertain  the  amount  of  money 
that  will  be  necessary  to  defray  the  expenses 
of  its  delegates  to  General  Conference,  and  ap- 
portion the  same  among  its  different  fields  of 


32  DISCIPLINE. 

labor ;  and  the  preacher  in  charge  shall  collect 
and  forward  such  amount  to  the  presiding  elder 
of  his  district,  who  shall  transmit  such  amount 
to  the  tellers  by  the  first  of  February  preceding 
the  General  Conference.  Should  any  preacher 
neglect  his  duty,  he  shall  be  accountable  there- 
for to  the  next  annual  conference. 

It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  General  Confer- 
ence to  examine  the  administration  of  each 
annual  conference,  whether  it  has  strictly  ob- 
served the  rules  and  preserved  the  moral  and 
doctrinal  principles  of  the  Discipline  in  all  its 
transactions. 

In  the  election  of  all  ofificers  of  the  General 
Conference,  a  majority  of  all  the  votes  shall  be 
necessary  to  a  choice. 

SECTION    IX. 

ANNUAL    CONFERENCE. 

Ques.  I.  Who  are  the  members  of  this  con- 
ference ? 

Ans^  All  the  elders  and  licentiate  preachers 
who  have  been  duly  received  by  the  confer- 
ence. 

Ques.  2.  In  what  manner  are  the  transac- 
tions of  a  conference  to  be  conducted  ? 

Ahs.  I.  A  portion  of  Scripture  shall  be  read ; 


DISCIPLINE.  33 

also,  singing  and  prayer  each  day,  at  the  open- 
ing and  at  the  closing  of  conference. 

2.  The  conference  shall  elect  two  secretaries, 
one  German  and  one  English,  wherever  it 
may  be  necessary,  one  of  whom  shall  imme- 
diately on  the  adjournment  of  the  annual  con- 
ference transmit  to  the  publishing  agent  at 
Dayton,  Ohio,  a  true  transcript  of  the  footings 
of  the  conference  chart.  If  no  bishop  should 
be  present,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  annual 
conference  to  elect  a  bishop  pro  tern.,  whose 
official  acts  shall  be  valid. 

3.  The  preachers  shall  be  examined  respect- 
ing their  deportment  toward  their  fellow-beings, 
whether  their  conduct  in  life  be  blameless  and 
whether  they  employ  as  much  time  as  practi- 
cable to  promote  the  kingdom  of  God,  (ac- 
cording to  Titus,  1st  chap,,  7th  to  9th  verse, 
and  2d  Tim.,  2d  chap,,  15th  verse,)  and  if 
found  delinquent,  shall  be  admonished  or  ad- 
vised as  the  case  may  require.  But  should  all 
admonition  or  advice  fail,  then  the  name  of 
the  delinquent  person  shall  be  erased  from  the 
minutes  of  the  conference. 

4.  Should  any  member  of  the  annual  confer- 
ence absent  himself  from  the  session  of  con- 
ference three  years  in  succession,  without  giving 
a  satisfactory  reason  for  so  doing,  his  name 

3 


34  DISCIPLINE. 

may  be  erased  from  the  minutes  of  the  confer- 
ence. 

5.  No  preacher  shall  be  permitted  to  elec- 
tioneer favorably  to  his  own  election  to  any 
office  or  delegation  in  the  Church  ;  and  should 
any  one  be  found  doing  so,  he  shall  be  account- 
able to  the  next  annual  conference  of  which  he 
is  a  member,  to  be  dealt  with  according  to  the. 
judgment  of  said  conference. 

The  following  questions  shall  also  be  asked : 

1.  Have  any  of  the  preachers  died  during 
the  last  year  ? 

2.  Who  are  candidates  for  the  ministry  ? 

3.  Are  any  to  be  ordained  to  the  office  of 
elder  ? 

4.  What  has  been  collected  for  contingent 
expenses  and  the  salary  of  traveling  preach- 
ers ? 

5.  What  has  been  done  for  missions  ? 

6.  What  has  been  done  for  Sabbath-schools  ? 

7.  Has  reckoning  been  made  with  the  travel- 
ing preachers  ? 

8.  Who  are  the  presiding  elders  ? 

9.  Where  are  the  preachers  stationed  this 
year  ? 

10.  Where  shall  our  next  conference  be 
held  ? 

11.  Is  there  anything  else  to  be  done  ? 


DISCIPLINE.  35 

12.  Is  all  that  has  been  done  entered  upon 
record  .'* 

SECTION   X. 

ORGANIZATION   OF  THE  ITINERANCY   AND 
THE   MANNER   OF  SUSTAINING  IT. 

Ques.  Who  are  the  itinerants  ? 

Afts.  I.  All  who  propose  themselves  without 
reserve,  after  having  traveled  two  years  under 
the  direction  of  the  stationing  committee  or 
presiding  elder,  and  have  been  received,  as 
such,  by  a  vote  of  two  thirds  of  the  members 
of  conference. 

If  any  one  who  is  received,  as  above  stated, 
shall  cease  to  travel  without  giving  satisfaction 
to  the  conference  of  which  he  is  a  member,  he 
shall  not  be  entitled  to  any  support  from  the 
funds  belonging  to  said  conference.  And, 
furthermore,  he  shall  not  re-enter  the  itinerancy 
without  the  consent  of  at  least  two  thirds  of  the 
conference.  Yet  supernumerary  and  superan- 
nuated relations  shall  be  duly  recognized  as 
in  accordance  with  this  section,  and  may  be 
secured  to  any  brother  having  just  claims 
thereto,  by  a  vote  of  conference.  Should  a 
traveling  preacher  or  elder  desire  to  leave  the 
work  assigned  him,  he  must  first  acquaint  the 
presiding   elder   of  his   intention,   by  writing ; 


36  DISCIPLINE. 

and  should  any  one  leave  or  neglect  his  sta- 
tion, except  it  be  through  sickness  or  other 
unavoidable  circumstances,  he  shall  be  ac- 
countable to  the  next  annual  conference. 

2.  The  bishop  and  presiding  elders  of  the 
past  and  present  years,  together  with  an  equal 
number  of  local  elders  or  preachers,  elected 
by  ballot  by  the  annual  conference,  shall  con- 
stitute a  stationing  committee,  whose  duty  it 
shall  be  to  supply  all  the  circuits,  stations,  and 
missions,  as  far  as  practicable,  from  the  above 
list: 

Provided,  however,  that  if  any  of  the  preach- 
ers thus  stationed,  or  any  who  may  not  receive 
an  appointment,  are  dissatisfied,  they  shall 
have  a  right  to  appeal  to  the  annual  conference, 
if  two  thirds  grant  the  appeal,"*  the  decision  of 
which  shall  be  final;  and  the  report  of  said 
stationing  committee  shall  be  read  at  least  six 
hours  before  the  adjournment  of  conference. 

3.  Should  there  not  be  enough  itinerants  to 
fill  all  the  circuits,  stations,  and  missions,  such 
vacancies  shall  be  supplied  by  the  stationing 
committee  or  presiding  elders. 


*NoTE. — In  case  of  an  appeal  from  the  decision  of  the  sta- 
tioning committee,  no  preacher  stationed  by  said  committee 
shall  be  changed,  without  his  consent,  to  accommodate  the 
preacher  asking  such  appeal. 


U-C 


DISCIPLINE.  37 

Ques.  2.  What  shall  be  done  to  regulate  the 
annual  conferences  in  the  division  of  circuits 
or  stations  ? 

Ans.  A  circuit  or  station  shall  not  consist  of 
any  specific  number  of  members  or  appoint- 
ments ;  but  when  the  annual  conference  thinks 
it  able  to  support  a  minister,  it  may  be  recog- 
nized as  such. 

BECTION    XI. 

ITINERANT  PREACHERS'   DUTIES. 

Qties.  What  are  the  duties  of  a  circuit 
preacher  ? 

Ans.  I.  To  take    the  circuit  assigned  him 
willingly.  V-'^^^jr*.^'  ^-^ '^(A^f^^'i,  -    ,/v^   ^. 
^2.  To  attend  the  appomtments  on  his  circuit 
regularly,  preach  to  the  people,  and  hold  class- 
meetings. 

3.  To  hold  a  society-meeting  at  least  one 
month  previous  to  annual  conference,  and  re- 
vise the  class-book  ;  he  shall  make  inquiry  ; 
into  the  moral  standing  of  each  member,  and ' 
in  no  case  shall  he  dispose  of  a  member  with- 
out the  consent  of  the  class,  except  in  cases  of 
special  law  requiring  the  erasure  of  the  name 
of  an  offending  member  ;  and  he  shall  render 
a  true  report  of  his  membership  to  the  annual 


38'  DISCIPLINE, 

conference.     At  the  said  meeting  he  shall  also 
see  that  a  class-leader  and  steward  are  elected. 

4.  To  read  the  following  four  sections  of  our 
Discipline  every  six  months,  in  each  regular 
congregation,  namely :  The  Co7ifession  of 
Faith,  Reception  and  Duties  of  Members, 
Ardent  Spirits,  and  Secret  Societies. 

5.  To  sit  as  president  on  the  trial  of  mem- 
bers, and  see  that  a  correct  account  of  the 
same  is  kept. 

6.  To  render  a  strict  account  in  writing  of 
the  condition  of  his  circuit  to  each  quarterly 
conference,  where  he  is  to  be  held  accountable 
for  the  neglect  of  any  regular  appointment  on 
his  circuit.  He  shall  also  report  the  number 
of  appointments,  pastoral  visits,  and  any 
change  that  may  have  taken  place  in  the  mem- 
bership of  his  charge. 

7.  It  shall  be  his  duty  to  use  every  laudable 
effort  to  circulate  our  books  and  church  peri- 
odicals, and  to  use  due  diligence  to  advance 
the  interests  of  the  Conference  Printing  Estab- 
lishment. 

8.  It  shall  be  his  duty  to  keep  a  list  of  the 
names  of  all  the  subscribers  to  our  Church 
periodicals,  and  the  time  of  subscribing,  at  the 
different  appointments  on  his  circuit,  and  hand 
it  over  to  his  successor  at  the  annual  confer- 


DISCIPLINE.  39 

ence,  with  the  list  of  the  appointments.  He 
shall  also  report  the  number  of  subscribers  to 
our  periodicals  on  his  field  of  labor  at  each 
quarterly  conference,  and  be  examined  by  the 
presiding  elder  and  quarterly  conference  as  to 
whether  he  performs  his  duty  in  circulating  the 
periodicals  of  the  Church  among  the  people  of 
his  charge, 

9.  No  preacher  shall  dismiss  any  appoint- 
ment from  his  circuit,  without  the  consent  of 
quarterly  conference. 

10.  He  shall  secure  a  suitable  book  for  a 
church  record,  in  which  he  shall  register  all 
the  appointments  and  classes  on  his  circuit, 
station,  or  mission,  in  their  regular  order,  with 
the  name  of  each  member  attached  to  his  or 
her  class.  He  shall  also  make  a  record  of  all 
the  baptisms,  marriages,  deaths,  and  proceed- 
ings of  church  trials,  with  names  of  all  the 
parties  in  each  case.  He  shall  report  this 
record  with  the  proceedings  therein  to  the  last 
quarterly  conference  of  each  year  for  approval 
or  improvement.  This  book  shall  be  the  prop- 
erty of  the  quarterly  conference,  and  shall  be 
in  addition  to  the  regular  class-books. 

11.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  preachers  in 
charge  of  circuits,  stations,  and  missions,  to 
collect  the  annual  amount  apportioned  to  their 


40  DISCIPLINE. 

fields  of  labor  for  the  support  of  the  bishops. 

12.  He  shall  hold  a  general  missionary  meet- 
ing at  some  convenient  place  on  his  work 
Ke  shall  also  preach  a  missionary  sermon,  and 
appoint  a  soliciting  committee  at  every  ap- 
pointment, whose  duty  it  shall  be,  in  conjunc- 
tion with  himself,  to  canvass  the  class  and 
community,  personally,  to  solicit  funds  for  the 
missionary  society.  He  shall  also  keep  a  list 
of  the  names  of  contributors,  so  far  as  possi- 
ble, and  report  the  same  to  conference  for  pub- 
lication with  the  minutes,  or  in  the  annual 
report  of  the  Board  of  Missions,  as  the  con- 
ference may  direct ;  he  shall  also  establish 
monthly  missionary  prayer-meetings  wherever 
practical  in  the  societies  of  his  charge.  He 
shall  be  held  to  a  strict  account  for  the  faith- 
ful performance  of  these  duties. 

13.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  all  stationed 
preachers  to  visit  every  family  under  their 
care,  at  least  once  every  quarter,  and  pay  strict 
attention  to  the  young  members  of  their 
charge. 

14.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  circuit  preachers 
to  visit  as  much  as  possible. 

15.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  all  preachers, 
whether  local  or  itinerant,  to  make  use  of  every 
laudable  effort  to  enlarge  the  borders  of  our 


DISCIPLINE.  41 

Zion,  in  spreading  scriptural  holiness,  and  re- 
port to  their  respective  annual  conferences  the 
number  of  new  appointments  obtained. 

SECTION    XII. 

BISHOPS— ELECTION  AND  DUTIES. 

Que^.  How  are  the  bishops  to  be  elected  ? 

Ans.  The  General  Conference  shall  elect 
them,  for  the  term  of  four  years,  by  a  majority 
of  the  whole  number  of  votes,  to  be,  at  the 
option  of  conference,  re-elected.  The  bishops 
must  be  capable  of  attending  the  conferences 
appointed  them,  otherwise  they  can  not  be 
elected. 

Ques,  How  shall  the  bishops'  fields  of  labor 
be  assigned  them  ? 

Alls.  By  the  General  Conference  ;  and  in 
the  fields  thus  assigned  them  they  shall  devote 
their  whole  time  ;  but  no  bishop  shall  be  sta- 
tioned more  than  four  consecutive  years  on  the 
same  district. 

Provided,  however,  that  they  shall  have  the 
privilege  of  making  such  temporary  inter- 
changes as  they  may  deem  proper. 

Ques.  How  shall  their  support  be  secured  ? 

A71S.  I.  Each  annual  conference  shall  ap- 
portion its  respective  part  of  the  salary  of  its 


42  DISCIPLINE. 

bishop,  annually,  to  the  several  fields  of  labor 
in  its  bounds,  according  to  the  ability  thereof. 

2.  The  bishops  shall  publish  annually,  in  the 
columns  of  the  Religious  Telescope,  reports  of 
their  respective  districts,  and  also  the  amount 
of  salary  received  from  the  several  annual  con- 
ferences in  their  charge. 

Ques.  What  are  the  duties  of  bishops  ? 

Ans.  I.  To  preside  over  the  annual  and 
general  conferences. 

2.  In  conjunction  with  the  presiding  elders 
of  the  past  and  present  year,  together  with  an 
equal  number  of  local  elders  or  preachers, 
they  may  fix  the  appointments  of  the  traveling 
preachers  for  the  several  circuits,  stations,  and 
missions  :  Provided,  that  they  do  not  allow 
any  itinerant  preacher  to  remain  on  the  same 
station  or  circuit  more  than  three  consecutive 
years,  unless  particular  circumstances  require 
it,  and  then  only  with  consent  of  the  confer- 
ence. 

3.  The  bishop,  in  conjunction  with  two  eld- 
ers, elected  by  ballot,  from  each  presiding- 
elder  district,  shall  appoint  the  presiding  elders 
to  their  respective  districts. 

4.  It  shall  be  their  duty  to  perform  the  rite 
of  ordination  at  the  annual  conferences,  and 
at  such  other  times  and  places  as  circumstances 


DISCIPLINE.  43 

may  require  it,  and  then  only  upon  such  per- 
sons as  have  passed  the  usual  examination 
required  of  candidates  for  ordination,  by  a 
committee  of  three  elders  chosen  for  that  pur- 
pose by  one  of  the  bishops. 

5.  The  bishops  shall  hold  annual  meetings, 
at  which  they  shall  determine  the  time  of  hold- 
ding  the  annual  conferences,  decide  questions 
of  discipline,  adopt  measures  to  secure  uni- 
formity in  their  administration,  and,  when 
circumstances  demand  it,  appoint  fast  and 
thanksgiving  seasons,  and  counsel  upon  the 
general  interests  of  the  Church. 

6.  In  conjunction  with  the  Board  of  Missions, 
the  bishops  shall  have  power  to  organize  mis- 
sion -conferences. 

7.  The  bishops  shall  devote  as  much  of  their 
time  as  possible,  consistent  with  their  other 
duties,  to  visiting  our  missions,  and  exploring 
new  fields. 

8.  When  a  bishop  fails  to  perform  his  duty, 
unless  through  unavoidable  circumstances,  he 
can  not  be  suffered  to  retain  his  office, 

9.  If  our  Church  should  at  any  time  be  des- 
titute of  a  bishop,  a  bishop  pro  tern,  shall  be 
elected  from  among  the  elders  at  each  annual 
conference.  Each  pishop^r^  tetn.  shall  attend 
the  next  succeeding  conference,  in  conjunction 


44  DISCIPLINE. 

with  the  bishop  pro  tern,  there  elected,  that  a 
regular  correspondence  be  ma:intained  until 
the  ensuing  General  Conference. 

lo.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  bishops  to  see 
that  a  suitable  sermon  be  delivered  to  the 
preachers  present  at  each  annual  conference. 

SECTION    XIII. 

ELECTION  OF  ELDERS. 

Ques.     How  is  an  elder  constituted?  ^ 

Ans.  After  a  probation  of  three  years,  a 
preacher  may  be  presented  to  the  annual  con- 
ference for  consideration ;  whereupon  the  bish- 
op shall  propose  to  conference  the  following 
questions  : 

Ques.  I.  Is  he  blameless  touching  the  mar- 
riage state  ? 

2.  Is  his  deportment  in  the  social  circle 
marked  with  watchful  sobriety  ? 

3.  Is  he  hospitable  toward  the  afflicted  and 
needy  ? 

4.  Is  he  faithful  in  the  public  ministration 
of  God's  word,  and  diligent  in  reading  and 
study  ? 

5.  Is  his  household  subject  to  rules  of  piety? 
Should  the  above  questions  be  answered  in 

the  affirmative,  a  committee  of  three  or  five 


DISCIPLINE.  45 

elders  shall  be  appointed,  before  whom  the 
candidate  shall  appear,  and  answer  to  the  fol- 
lowing questions,  namely  : 

Ques.  I.  Upon  what  foundation  do  you  be- 
lieve the  Bible  to  be  the  word  of  God  ? 

2.  How  do  you  prove  the  fall  of  man  by 
transgression  ? 

3.  How  do  you  prove  the  redemption  of  man 
by  Jesus  Christ  ? 

4.  Do  you  believe  in  the  godhead  of  Jesus 
Christ  ? 

5.  What  foundation  have  you  for  such  a 
belief? 

6.  Do  you  believe  in  the  Holy  Ghost  as  pre- 
sented in  our  confession  of  faith  ? 

7.  Upon  what  evidence  do  you  believe  this  ? 

8.  Do  you  believe  in  future,  everlasting  pun- 
ishment ? 

It  shall  be  the  privilege  of  the  committee,  in 
the  close,  to  propose  any  question  touching 
the  answers  given,  wherein  their  understand- 
ing may  not  have  been  distinct.  It  shall  also 
be  their  duty  to  make  out,  sign,  and  deliver  to 
conference  a  report  of  each  case  which  may 
have  been  before  them.  Whereupon,  by  a 
majority  of  the  votes  of  the  elders  of  confer- 
ence, said  candidates  may  be  elected  to  ordi- 
nation.    All  ordained  elders  of  other  denom- 


^  DISCIPLINE. 

inations,  who  may  join  our  Church  as  such, 
must  pass  the  above  examination  ;  but  they 
may  be  exempt  from  the  laying  on  of  hands. 
Yet,  circumstances  demanding  it,  a  Hcentiate 
may  be  presented  to  conference  for  ordination 
at  any  time  prior  to  a  probation  of  three  years, 
provided  two  thirds  of  the  elders  present  vote 
for  the  same. 

SECTION   XIV. 

ORDINATION  OF  ELDERS. 

I,  On  the  day  appointed  there  shall  be  a 
suitable  sermon  delivered. 

II.  After  their  names  have  been  read  aloud, 
the  bishop  or  elder  shall  read  the  following  ar- 
ticles to  all  who  may  be  chosen  for  ordination: 

"An  elder  must  be  blameless  as  the  steward 
of  God,  not  self-willed,  not  soon  angry,  not 
given  to  wine  ;  no  striker,  not  given  to  filthy 
lucre ;  but  a  lover  of  hospitality,  a  lover  of 
good  men  ;  sober,  just,  holy,  temperate;  hold- 
ing fast  the  faithful  word  as  he  hath  been 
taught,  that  he  may  be  able,  by  sound  doctrine, 
both  to  exhort  and  convince  the  gainsayers. 
Titus  i.  7-9. 

Qiies.  Do  you  trust  that  you  are  inwardly 
moved  by  the  Holy  Ghost  to  take  upon  you  the 


DISCIPLINE.  47 

office  of  the  ministry,  to  serve  God  in  the 
church  of  Christ  to  the  honor  and  glory  of  his 
holy  name  ?     If  so,  answer,  I  trust  I  am. 

Ques.  Do  you  believe  the  Holy  Scriptures, 
Old  and  New  Testament  ?  If  so,  answer,  I  do 
believe  them. 

Qties.  Will  you  apply  due  diligence  to 
frame  and  fashion  your  life  according  to  the 
doctrines  of  Christ,  and  to  make  yourself,  as 
much  as  in  you  lieth,  a  wholesome  example  of 
the  flock  of  Christ  ?  If  so,  answer,  I  will,  the 
Lord  being  my  helper. 

Ques.  Will  you  obey  them  to  whom  the 
charge  and  government  over  you  is  committed, 
and  follow  their  godly  admonitions  with  a  will- 
ing and  ready  mind  ?  If  so,  answer,  I  will  en- 
deavor, through  the  grace  of  God,  to  do  so. 

Thgn  prayer  is  to  be  offered. 

After  prayer,  the  bishop  and  elders  shall  lay 
their  hands  upon  the  head  of  every  one  of 
them,  and  say  : 

Take  thou  authority  to  execute  the  office  of 
an  elder  in  the  church  of  God,  in  the  name  of 
the  Father,  and  of  the  Son,  and  of  the  Holy 
Ghost.    Amen. 

[Hereupon  the  bishop  or  elder  shall  delivei 
to  every  one  of  them  the  Holy  Bible,  saying :] 

Take   thou  authority  to  preach  the  word  oj 


48  DISCIPLINE. 

God,  and  administer  the  ordinances  in  the 
church  of  Christ. 

[Then  the  bishop  or  elder  shall  pray.  And 
after  prayer  he  shall  read  from  Luke  xii. 
35-38]:  "Let  your  loins  be  girded  about,  and 
your  lights  burning,  and  ye  yourselves  like 
unto  men  that  wait  for  their  Lord,  when  he  shall 
return  from  the  wedding ;  that,  when  he  Com- 
eth and  knocketh,  they  may  open  unto  him 
immediately.  Blessed  are  those  servants 
whom  the  Lord  when  he  cometh  shall  find 
watching.  Verily  I  say  unto  you,  that  he  shall 
gird  himself,  and  make  them  sit  down  to  meat, 
and  will  come  forth  and  serve  them.  And  if 
he  shall  come  in  the  second  watch,  or  come  in 
the  third  watch,  and  find  them  so,  blessed  are 
those  servants."  [After  this  the  following  ben- 
ediction is  to  be  pronounced  :] 

The  peace  of  God  keep  your  hearts  and  minds 
171  the  knowledge  of  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord. 
Ameft. 

SECTION   XV, 

ELDERS'  DUTIES. 

It  is  the  duty  of  an  elder  to  preach  as  often 
as  he  can;  to  baptize,  to  administer  the  Lord's 
Supper,  solemnize  marriages,  to  perform  all 
parts  of  divine  service,  to  be  an  example  to 


DISCIPLINE.  49 

the  flock  of  Christ  by  imitating  his  moral  ex- 
ample ;  and  in  a  very  special  manner  it  shall 
be  the  duty  of  an  elder  to  cherish  and  encour- 
age young  ministers,  and  always  to  be  looking 
for  those  whom  God  has  called  to  preach,  and 
advise  them  to  take  up  the  cross,  and  begin 
the  work  without  delay,  that  the  labor  of  this 
gospel  harvest  may  be  faithfully  performed. 

SECTION    XVI. 

PRESIDING  ELDERS. 

Ques.  I.  How  shall  the  presiding  elders  be 
elected  ? 

Ans.  The  annual  conference  shall  elect 
them  by  ballot.  A  majority  of  the  whole  num- 
ber of  votes  shall  be  necessary  to  a  choice. 

Ques.  2.  What  shall  be  done  for  the  sup- 
port of  the  presiding  elders  ? 

Ans.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  each  annual 
conference  to  make  such  regulations  for  the 
support  of  the  presiding  elders  as  they  in  their 
wisdom  may  think  best  calculated  to  accom- 
plish the  desired  end. 

Ques.  3.     How  shall  they  be  stationed? 

Ans.     By  the   bishop  and  two  elders  from 
each  presiding-elder  district. 
4 


50  DISCIPTLINE. 

Qiies.  4.  What  are  the  duties  of  a  presid- 
ing elder  ? 

A71S,  I.  To  travel  through  the  district  ap- 
pointed him,  and  to  preach  as  often  as  is  prac- 
ticable. 

2.  He  shall  appoint  the  quarterly  and  camp 
meetings,  and  attend  them.  He  shall  hold 
quarterly  conferences,  and  administer  the  or- 
dinances of  God's  house.  He  shall  inquire 
whether  the  preachers  do  their  duty,  and  ex- 
hort them  to  maintain  discipline  and  order, 
love  and  seriousness  in  the  society. 

3.  It  shall  be  his  duty  to  make  strict  inquiry 
if  each  itinerant  minister  has  received  the 
amount  of  salary  due  him,  and  in  case  of  a 
deficiency  to  make  an  earnest  effort  to  secure 
the  balance  due  him. 

4.  He  may  also,  in  conjunction  with  two 
elders,  preachers,  exhorters,  or  leaders,  [one 
from  each  circuit,]  change  the  preachers  in  his 
district.  Each  presiding  elder  shall  give  a  re- 
port in  writing,  of  his  district,  annually,  to  the 
annual  conference. 

5.  Should  any  district  happen  to  be  without 
a  presiding  elder,  information  shall  be  imme- 
diately given  to  a  bishop,  w'ho  shall  appoint  an 
elder  to  preside  in  said  district  until  the  ensu- 
ing annual  conference. 


DISCIPLINE.  51 

SECTION    XVII. 

QUARTERLY    CONFERENCE. 

Qties.  I.  Who  are  the  members  of  the  quar- 
terly conference  ? 

Ajis.  The  presiding  elder  of  the  district,  the 
preacher  in  charge,  and  all  the  properly  recog- 
nized preachers,  exhorters,  leaders,  stewards, 
and  trustees  of  meeting  and  parsonage  houses, 
and  superintendents  of  Sabbath-schools  (when 
said  trustees  and  superintendents  are  members 
of  the  Church  of  the  United  Brethren  in 
Christ),  who  reside  within  the  bounds  of  the 
circuit,  station,  or  mission. 

Ques.  2.  What  is  the  business  of  the  quar- 
terly conference  ? 

Ans.  I.  In  the  absence  of  the  presiding 
elder,  the  quarterly  conference  shall  elect  a 
chairman  pro  tern.,  whose  official  acts  shall  be 
valid. 

2.  To  elect  a  secretary,  whose  duty  it  shall 
be  to  keep  a  correct  record  of  all  their  proceed- 
ings in  a  book  provided  for  that  purpose,  in 
which  the  names  of  all  the  members  compos- 
ing: the  said  conference  shall  be  entered. 

3.  To  make  inquiry  into  the  moral  deport- 
ment and  official  character  of  all  its  members. 

4.  To  receive  and  try  all  appeals,  references, 


52  DISCIPLINE. 

and  complaints  that  may  come  regularly  before 
it ;  but  no  member  of  quarterly  conference  can 
be  suspended  or  expelled  prior  to  a  com^mittee 
trial.  When  a  quarterly-conference  preacher 
or  exhorter  is  accused  of  any  misdemeanor,  he 
shall  be  tried  by  a  committee  of  three,  of 
which  the  accused  shall  choose  one  and  the 
quarterly  conference  a  second,  and  these  two 
a  third,  to  try  the  case  ;  and  if  the  accused  is 
found  guilty  he  shall  be  silenced  ;  provided, 
however,  either  party  shall  have  the  right  of 
appeal  to  the  next  quarterly  conference  for  a 
new  trial. 

5.  To  grant  license  to  exhort  or  preach  to 
such  as  may  have  been  recommended  by  at 
least  two  thirds  of  the  class  (in  each  case  a 
recommendation  must  be  obtained)  of  which 
they  may  be  members ;  provided,  however, 
that  none  shall  receive  license  v/ho  can  not 
give  satisfactory  evidence  of  their  call,  expe- 
rience, soundness  in  doctrine,  and  attachment 
to  our  Church  and  government. 

6.  To  make  settlement  with  the  stewards  and 
traveling  preachers. 

7.  To  enforce  discipline  in  all  the  classes 
under  its  jurisdiction  ;  but  in  no  case  to  disor- 
ganize   a   class   unless  the   preliminary   steps 


DISCIPLINE.  53 

have  been  taken  as  required  in  Section  VI.  of 
Discipline. 

8.  To  renew  the  license  of  exhorters  and 
quarterly-conference  licensed  preachers,  annu- 
ally, if  they  be  found  worthy,  and  to  arrange  a 
plan  for  the  local  preachers  to  preach  regularly 
at  stated  places,  as  the  quarterly  conference 
may  direct. 

9.  After  such  licentiate  preachers  have  stood 
in  that  capacity  one  or  more  years,  the  quar- 
terly conference  may  recommend  them  to  the 
annual  conference. 

10.  All  preachers  recommended  to  the  an- 
nual conference,  and  not  received,  may  sustain 
their  former  relation. 

11.  The  quarterly  conference,  at  its  last  ses-  / 
sion  in  each  year,  shall  appoint  an  estimating    \ 
committee  for  the  ensuing  year;  which  com- 
mittee shall  meet  at  the  time  and  place  speci-  ' 
fied  by  the  preacher  appointed  to  the    charge 
for  the  ensuing  year,  and  make  out  an  esti- 
mate of  the  regular  expenses  of   the  circuit, 
station,   or  mission,   and  apportion  the    same 
among  the  different  appointments  according  to 
their  several  abilities. 

Each  class,  after  receiving  its  apportionment, 
shall  as  soon  as  convenient,  on  the  call  of  the 
leader  or  steward,  hold  a  meeting  and  appoint 


54  DISCIPLINE. 

a  committee  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  make  a 
dividend  of  the  apportionment  to  each  member 
thereof  according  to  his  or  her  ability,  to  be 
paid  quarterly  or  monthly  ;  provided,  however, 
that  it  shall  be  the  privilege  of  any  class  t& 
collect  the  amount  apportioned  to  it  by  sub- 
scription or  otherwise. 

Qaes.  3.  How  are  preachers  from  other  so- 
cieties received  ? 

Ans.  If  they  come  to  us  with  certificates  of 
good  standing  in  the  society  in  which  they 
have  had  membership,  and  give  satisfaction  to 
the  quarterly  conference  on  examination  on 
the  doctrine,  discipline,  government  and  usages 
of  our  Church,  then  the  quarterly  conference 
may  license  them,  with  the  understanding  that 
the  quarterly-conference  relation  continue  for  at 
least  one  year,  (provided,  that  an  elder  coming 
to  us  shall  be  allowed  to  perform  the  functions 
of  an  elder  during  his  probation,)  after  which, 
if  their  conduct  and  doctrine  be  in  accordance 
with  the  gospel  of  Christ,  they  may  be  received 
into  the  annual  conference  as  preachers,  or 
elders,  as  the  case  may  be. 

Qites.  4.  What  directions  are  necessary  in 
case  of  appeals  ? 

Ans.  Any  exhorter  or  preacher,  dissatisfied 
with    the    decision  of  a  quarterly  conference, 


DISCIPLINE.  55 

shall,  within  thirty  days  after  the  quarterly 
conference,  notify  the  secretary,  in  writing,  of 
his  intention  to  appeal,  together  with  his  rea- 
sons for  so  doing  ;  and  it  shall  be  the  duty  of 
the  secretary  to  take  or  send  a  certified  copy 
of  the  proceedings,  the  notification,  and  rea- 
sons assigned,  to  the  annual  conference.* 

Ques.  5.  Where  shall  our  next  quarterly 
conference  be  held  ? 

Qties.  6.    Is  there  anything  more  to  be  done  ? 

All  exhorters  and  quarterly  -  conference 
preachers  are  required  to  join  some  conven- 
ient class;  and,  upon  neglect  or  refusal  to  do 
so,  shall  lose  their  official  relation. 

It  shall  also  be  the  duty  of  the  quarterly  con- 
ference to  open  and  close  with  prayer, 

SECTroN    xvtii. 
OFFICIAL  MEETINGS  FOR  STATIONS. 

Ques.  I .  Who  are  the  members  of  the  offi^ 
cial  meeting? 

Ans.  I.  All  the  properly  recognized  mem« 
bers  of  the  quarterly  conference. 

2.  The  preacher  in  charge  shall  be  the  pres- 

*NoTE.— In  all  cases  ox  appeal,  whetbcr  to  the  qiurtefly,  an- 
nual, or  General  Conference,  the  course  I.aIcI  down  in  this  sec- 
tion on  appeals  is  the  proper  course  to  be  pnrHued. 


56  DISCIPLINE. 

ident  of  the  meeting;  and  in  his  absence  one 
of  the  members  shall  be  elected  president  pro 
tevi. 

Ques.  2.  What  is  the  business  of  the  ofiScial 
meeting  ? 

Ans.  I.  The  president  shall  call  the  meet- 
ing to  order,  and  begin  and  conclude  with 
prayer. 

2.  To  elect  a  secretary,  who  shall  make  a 
record  of  all  the  proceedings  of  the  meeting. 

3.  To  elect  a  treasurer,  whose  duty  it  shall 
be  to  receive  all  moneys  from  stewards  that 
have  been  collected,  and  receipt  therefor;  and 
said  treasurer  shall  pay  out  all  moneys  in  his 
hands  as  the  official  meeting  may  direct. 

4.  To  receive  a  statement  from  each  class- 
leader  in  reference  to  the  prosperity  of  religion 
in  his  class. 

5.  This  body  shall  meet  once  a  month,  and 
may  meet  oftener  if  circumstances  require. 

6.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  official  meeting 
to  receive  all  reports  of  subscriptions,  and 
moneys  collected  and  disbursed  for  the  interest 
of  the  station;  and  all  persons  intrusted  with 
subscriptions  or  moneys  shall  report  the  same 
to  the  meeting  as  soon  as  possible. 

7.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  official  meeting 


DISCIPLINE.  57 

to  submit  its  doings  to  the  quarterly  conference 
for  examination  and  approval. 

SECTION  xrx. 

TRIAL  OP  MEMBERS. 

Ques.  What  shall  be  done  when  members 
trespass  against  each  other  ? 

A?is.  "If  thy  brother  shall  trespass  against 
thee,  go  and  tell  him  his  fault  between  him 
and  thee  alone;  if  he  shall  hear  thee,  thou  hast 
gained  thy  brother;  but  if  he  will  not  hear 
thee,  then  take  with  thee  one  or  two  more;  and 
if  he  shall  neglect  to  hear  them,  tell  it  unto  the 
church;  but  if  he  neglect  to  hear  the  church, 
let  him  be  unto  thee  as  a  heathen  man  and  a 
publican." 

Qiies.  What  shall  be  done  in  case  of  mem- 
bers accused  of  trespass  or  immoral  conduct  ? 

Alls.  The  class  shall  appoint  one  or  more  to 
visit  the  accused  brother  or  sister,  and,  if  pos- 
sible, reclaim  him  or  her ;  but  if  unsuccessful, 
he  or  she  shall  be  tried  by  the  class  to  which 
they  belong,  or  a  select  number  thereof,  chos- 
en by  the  parties  concerned,  with  the  preacher 
in  charge  of  the  circuit  or  station,  who  shall  be 
chairman  ;  and  if  found  guilty,  the  accused 
shall  be  expelled,  unless  satisfaction  be  given 


58  DISCIPLINE. 

by  an  expression  of  repentance  or  otherwise. 
If  the  accused  refuse  to  choose  his  committee- 
man, when  properly  notified,  the  quarterly 
conference  shall  choose  a  second  person,  and 
these  two  a  third,  which  committee  sha,ll  try 
the  case  and  decide.  Yet  cases  may  happen 
where  it  would  be  expedient  to  choose  a  com- 
mittee from  any  other  class  or  classes  than  the 
one  to  which  the  parties  belong  ;  also,  an  elder 
may  be  chosen  as  chairman,  should  the 
preacher  in  charge  deem  it  best  to  do  so.  But 
should  any  member  be  dissatisfied  with  the  de- 
cision, an  appeal  may  be  had  to  the  quarterly 
conference,  by  giving  notice  thereof  to  the 
preacher  in  charge.  In  such  case,  hov/ever, 
the  same  persons  shall  not  sit  in  judgment  on 
the  same  case. 

Ques.  What  shall  be  done  in  cases  of  neg- 
lect of  duty  of  any  kind,  imprudent  conduct, 
indulging  sinful  tempers  or  words,  or  disobe- 
dience to  the  order  and  discipline  of  the 
Church  ? 

Ans.  First,  let  private  reproof  be  given  by 
the  preacher  or  leader ;  and  if  there  be  an  ac- 
knowledgment of  the  fault  and  proper  humili- 
ation, the  person  may  be  borne  with.  On  a 
second  offense,  the  preacher  or  leader  shall 
take  with  him  one  or  two  faithful  members. 


DISCIPLINE.  59 

On  a  third  oftense,  let  the  case  be  brought  be- 
fore the  Church  or  class,  or  a  select  committee  ; 
and  if  there  be  no  satisfactory  humiliation,  the 
offender  shall  be  expelled. 

In  case  of  trial  under  this  clause,  the  leader 
shall  act  in  behalf  of  the  Church  ;  or  if  the 
leader  be  the  offender,  the  steward  shall  act  as 
prosecutor. 

Ques.  What  shall  be  done  in  case  of  dis- 
putes between  the  members  or  preachers  ? 

Ans.  The  preacher  to  whom  it  shall  be 
known  shall  inquire  into  the  circumstances  of 
the  case,  and  if  necessary,  shall  recommend  to 
the  contending  parties  a  reference,  consisting 
of  one  arbiter,  chosen  by  the  plaintiff,  and 
another  by  the  defendant,  and  a  third  by  these 
two  ;  then  these  three  are  to  decide. 

But,  if  either  be  dissatisfied  with  the  decision, 
such  may  have  a  right  to  an  appeal  to  the  next 
quarterly  conference  for  a  second  arbitration, 
where  each  party  shall  choose  two  arbiters,  and 
the  four  shall  choose  a  fifth,  a  decision  of  the 
majority  of  whom  shall  be  final.  Any  person 
refusing  to  abide  by  this  decision,  and  every 
member  refusing,  in  case  of  debt  or  dispute,  to 
refer  the  matter  to  arbitration  when  recom- 
mended to  him  by  a  preacher  or  leader,  or 
who   shall    enter   into    a  lawsuit  with    another 


60  DISCIPLINE. 

member  before  these  measures  are  taken,  shall 
be  expelled  without  further  process,  and  his  0]% 
her  name  be  erased  from  the  Church  Record 
by  the  preacher  in  charge,  or  the  class-leader, 
except  when  the  case  is  of  such  a  nature  as  to 
require  and  justify  a  process  at  law,  as  execu- 
tors or  administrators,  or  when  a  member  is  in 
danger  of  suffering  an  unexpected  loss  of  prop- 
erty. 

Every  class-leader  shall  keep  a  record  of  the 
proceedings  of  church  trials,  deaths,  expul- 
sions, and  removals,  in  a  book  provided  for 
that  purpose  ;  and  it  shall  be  his  duty,  in  case 
of  an  appeal,  to  send  his  record  to  the  quar- 
terly conference. 

SECTION    XX. 

IMMORAL  CONDUCT  OF  PREACHERS. 

Qiies.  What  shall  be  done  when  a  preacher, 
elder,  or  bishop  is  reported  guilty  of  immo- 
rality ? 

Ans.  The  preacher  to  whom  it  is  known  shall 
take  with  him  another  preacher,  exhorter,  or 
leader,  and  examine  into  the  charge;  but  as 
the  apostle  saith  (I.  Tim.  v.  19),  "Against  an 
elder  receive  not  an  accusation,  but  before  two 
or  three  witnesses."     If  it  should  appear  that 


DISCIPLINE.  61 

said  reports  are  well  founded  they  shall  be  re- 
quired to  prefer  charges  against  the  accused. 
If  no  one  be  found  willing  to  prosecute  the 
case,  then  the  next  quarterly  conference  shall 
appoint  a  prosecutor,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to 
notify  the  accused,  in  writing,  of  all  the  charges 
preferred  against  him.  He  shall  also  notify 
him  to  choose  an  elder  as  his  committee-man ; 
the  prosecutor  choosing  an  elder  also  as  com- 
mittee-man in  behalf  of  the  Church  ;  and  they 
two  a  third  elder  or  preacher,  before  whom  the 
case  shall  be  tried.  The  prosecutor  shall  also 
notify  the  presiding  elder  of  the  district  within 
whose  bounds  said  cause  of  accusation  occur- 
red ;  and  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  presiding 
elder  to  appoint  the  time  and  place  of  trial, 
giving  not  less  than  twenty  nor  more  than  forty 
days'  notice  to  the  parties  concerned  of  said 
trial,  and  who  shall  also  act  as  chairman  on 
the  case.  Should  the  committee  be  satisfied 
that  the  accusation  is  sustained  they  shall  re- 
quire him  to  hold  his  peace  until  the  annual 
conference,  where  he  shall  be  accountable ; 
and  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  committee  to 
transmit  in  writing  the  entire  proceedings  of 
said  trial  to  the  annual  conference,  where  the 
accused  shall  have  a  hearing  before  the  con- 
ference or  a  select  committee  thereof;  and  if 


62  DISCIPLINE. 

the  findings  are  sustained  he  shall  be  suspend- 
ed, expelled,  or  retained,  as  the  conference 
may  determine.  But  should  the  accused,  after 
having  been  duly  notified,  refuse  to  comply  in 
choosing  his  committee-man,  then  the  presid- 
ing elder  shall  suspend  him  until  the  annual 
conference,  where,  if  he  shall  refuse  to  appear, 
he  shall  be  dealt  with  according  to  the  judg- 
ment of  the  conference  ;  provided,  however, 
if  he  be  an  elder,  elders  only  shall  vote  in  the 
case.  If  the  accused  be  a  presiding  elder  or 
a  bishop,  the  presiding  elder  or  bishop,  as  the 
case  may  be,  next  adjoining,  shall  act  as  chair- 
man on  the  trial. 

The  foregoing  relates  only  to  annual-confer- 
ence members. 

SECTION    XXI. 

PREACHERS'  SALARIES. 

I.  The  annual  allowance  of  a  traveling- 
preacher  shall  be  such  sum  as  may  be  agreed 
upon  between  such  preacher  and  the  quarterly 
conference  of  the  field  of  labx)r  to  which  he  is 
sent. 

If  he  be  a  missionary  employed  by  the 
Board  of  Missions,  the  Board  shall  grant  such 
allowance  as  in  its  judgment  it  shall  see  proper. 


DISCIPLINE.  63 

3.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  a  circuit  or  station, 
when  a  preacher  is  sent  to  it  by  annual  con- 
ference, to  move  said  preacher  on  such  circuit 
or  station  at  its  own  expense. 

Ques.  What  shall  be  done  for  the  needy, 
superannuated,  or  worn-out  traveling  preach- 
ers, and  their  widows  and  orphans  ? 

Ans.  The  annual  conferences  to  which  they 
respectively  belong  shall  make  provision  for 
them. 

SECTION    XXII. 

SECRET  SOCIETIES. 

We  believe  that  secret  societies  are  evil  in 
their  nature  and  tendency  (a  secret  society  is 
one  whose  initiatory  ceremony  is  a  secret) ; 
and  any  member  or  preacher  of  our  Church  • 
who  shall  be  found  connected,  in  any  way, 
with  such  a  society,  shall  be  admonished  to 
sever  said  connection.  If  the  offender  be  a 
lay  member  he  shall  be  so  admonished  by  the 
preacher  in  charge  ;  if  a  preacher,  or  exhorter, 
by  the  presiding  elder ;  if  a  presiding  elder, 
by  the  bishop ;  if  a  bishop,  by  the  presiding 
elder  of  the  district  in  which  such  bishop  may 
reside. 

If  such  offending  person  fail  to  comply  with 
this  admonition  within  six   months  after  it  is 


64  DISCIPLINE. 

given,  he  shall  be  reported  to  the  class,  quar- 
terly or  annual  conference,  as  the  case  may 
be,  and  his  name  be  erased  from  the  record, 
and  he  be  no  longer  cdnsidered  a  member  ot 
our  Church. 

Provided,  that  should  the  accused  deny  said 
connection,  the  case  shall  be  tried  according 
to  Sections  xix.  and  xx.  of  Discipline. 

SECTION    XXIII. 

SLAVERY. 

All  slavery,  in  every  sense  of  the  word,  is 
totally  prohibited,  and  shall  in  no  way  be  tol- 
erated in  our  Church.  Should  any  be  found 
•in  our  society  who  hold  slaves,  they  can  not 
continue  as  members  unless  they  do  personal- 
ly manumit  or  set  free  such  slaves. 

And  when  it  is  known  to  any  of  our  minis- 
ters in  charge  of  a  circuit,  station,  or  mission, 
that  any  of  its  members  hold  a  slave  or  slaves, 
he  shall  admonish  such  members  to  manumit 
such  slave  or  slaves ;  and  if  such  persons  do 
not  take  measures  to  carry  out  the  Discipline, 
they  shall  be  expelled  by  the  proper  authorities 
of  the  Church  ;  and  any  minister  refusing  to 
attend  to  the  duties  above  described,  shall  be 


DISCIPLINE.  65 

dealt  with  by  the  authorities  to  which  he  is 
amenable. 

SECTION   XXIV. 

WAR. 

We  most  positively  record  our  disapproval 
of  engaging  in  voluntary,  national,  aggressive 
warfare;  yet  we  recognize  the  rightful  authority 
of  the  civil  government,  and  hold  it  responsi- 
ble for  the  preservation  and  defense  of  our 
national  compact,  against  treason,  or  invasion 
by  any  billigerent  force,  and  we  believe  it  to  be 
entirely  consistent  with  the  spirit  of  Christian- 
ity to  bear  arms  when  called  upon  to  do  so  by 
the  properly-constituted  authorities  of  our  gov- 
ernment for  its  preservation  and  defense. 

SECTION    XXV. 

DOCTRINAL  PUBLICATIONS. 

No  one  of  our  preachers  or  laymen  shall  be- 
come the  author  of  any  doctrinal  book  or 
pamphlet,  in  a  printed  form,  in  the  name  of 
the  Church,  without  the  approbation  of  the  an- 
nual conference,  or  of  a  committee  chosen  by 
the  same.  And  if  any  preacher  or  layman  vi- 
olates this  rule,  he  shall  be  accountable  to  the 
5 


66  DISCIPLINE. 

class,  or  the  quarterly  or  annual  conference,  as 
the  case  may  be. 

SECTION  XXVI. 

OATHS. 

We  believe  that  the  mode  of  testifying  to  the 
truth  when  required  so  to  do  in  a  legal  form, 
by  way  of  affirmation,  is  on  us  solemnly,  con- 
scientiously, and  fully  binding,  before  God,  to 
tell  the  truth,  the  whole  truth,  and  nothing  but 
the  truth. 

SECTION    XXVII. 

TEMPERANCE. 

The  distilling,  vending,  and  use  of  intoxicat- 
ing drinks  as  a  beverage  shall  be,  and  is  here- 
by forbidden  throughout  our  society ;  and 
should  any  of  our  members  or  preachers  be 
found  guilty  in  this  respect,  they  shall  be  dealt 
with  as  in  the  case  of  other  immoralities;  pro- 
vided, however,  that  this  rule  shall  not  be  so 
construed  as  to  prevent  druggists  and  others 
from  vending  or  using  it  for  medicinal  or  me 
chanical  purposes. 


DISCIPLINE.  67 

SECTION    XXVIII. 

NECESSITY  OF  UNION  AMONG  OURSELVES. 

Let  us  be  deeply  sensible  (from  what  we 
have  known)  of  the  evil  of  a  division  in  prin- 
ciple, spirit,  or  practice,  and  of  the  dreadful 
consequences  to  ourselves  and  others.  If  we 
are  united,  what  can  stand  before  us  ?  If  we 
are  divided,  we  shall  injure  ourselves,  the  work 
of  God,  and  the  souls  of  our  people. 

What  can  be  done  in  order  to  a  closer  union 
with  each  other  ? 

1.  Let  us  be  deeply  convinced  of  the'  abso- 
lute necessity  of  it. 

2.  Pray  earnestly  for  and  speak  truly  and 
freely  to  each  other. 

3.  When  we  meet,  let  us  never  part  without 
prayer,  when  practicable. 

4.  Take  great  care  not  to  despise  each  oth- 
er's gifts. 

5.  Never  speak  lightly  of  each  other. 

6.  Let  us  defend  each  other's  character  in 
everythmg,  so  far  as  is  consistent  with  truth. 

7.  Labor  in  honor,  each  preferring  another 
before  himself. 

8.  We  recommend  a  serious  examination  of 
the  causes,  evils,  and  cures  of  heart  and  church 
divisions. 


6&  DISCIPLINE. 

SECTION   XXIX. 

VISITING  FROM  HOUSE  TO  HOUSE  AND  EN- 
FORCING PRACTICAL  RELIGION. 

Ques.  How  can  we  further  assist  those  under 
our  care  ? 

Ans,  By  instructing  them  at  their  own  houses, 
which  is  necessary  to  promote  confidence  and 
communion  with  God  among  us,  to  wean  us 
from  the  love  of  the  world,  and  to  inure  us  to 
a  life  of  heavenly-mindedness;  also,  to  encour- 
age us  to  strive  after  and  practice  brotherly 
love,  that  no  evil  thinking  or  judging  of  one 
another  be  found  among  us ;  and  lastly,  that 
we  may  learn  to  do  as  we  would  wish  to  be 
done  by. 

2.  Every  preacher  should  make  it  his  duty 
to  instruct  the  people  on  every  occasion,  both 
public  and  private,  and  exhort  them  to  be  dil- 
igent in  all  good  works  and  doctrine.  Until 
this  be  done,  and  that  in  sincerity,  we  shall, 
upon  the  whole,  be  of  but  little  use,  and  our 
good  shall  be  evil  spoken  of;  therefore,  wher- 
ever we  may  be,  we  should  guard  against  use- 
less and  idle  conversation. 

Undoubtedly  this  private  application  of  vis- 
iting from  house  to  house,  and  exhorting  the 


DTRCIPLINE.  69 

people,  is  found  or  implied  in  these  solemn 
words  of  the  apostle  ; 

"I  charge  thee,  therefore,  before  God,  and 
the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  who  shall  judge  the 
quick  and  the  dead  at  his  appearing  and  his 
kingdom  ;  preach  the  word  ;  be  instant  in  sea- 
son, out  of  season  ;  reprove,  rebuke,  exhort 
with  all  long-suffering  and  doctrine."  II.  Tim. 
iv.    I,  2. 

SECTION    XXX. 

SABBATH-SCHOOLS. 

1.  What  shall  be  done  to  benefit  the  rising 
generation  ? 

Ans.  Let  him  who  is  in  any  way  zealous  for 
God  and  the  souls  of  men  begin  the  work  im- 
mediately. Wherever  children  are  found, 
speak  freely  to  them  and  instruct  them  dili- 
gently; exhort  them  to  be  good,  and  pray  with 
them  earnestly,  yet  simply  and  plainly,  that 
they  may  learn  to  know  their  Creator  and  Re- 
deemer in  the  days  of  their  youth. 

2.  For  the  more  harmonious  and  successful 
operation  of  this  good  work,  we  would  present 
the  following 


70  DISCIPLINE. 

CONSTITUTION  AND  BY-LAWS. 

ARTICLE     I. 

This  shall  be  called  the  Sabbath-school  As- 
sociation of  the  Church  of  the  United  Brethrei* 
in  Christ. 

ARTICLE    II. 

The  object  of  this  association  shall  be  to  pro 
mote  the  cause  of  Sabbath-schools  in  connec- 
tion with  our  Church,  and  elsewhere,  and  thus, 
by  our  united  efforts,  to  promote  the  glory  of 
God  and  the  happiness  and  final  salvation  of 
mankind. 

ARTICLE   III. 

Sec.  I.  The  officers  of  the  association  shall 
consist  of  a  president,  treasurer,  and  secretary, 
and  an  executive  committee  of  three,  who  shall 
be  elected  every  four  years  by  the  General 
Conference. 

Sec.  2.  The  president  shall  have  the  general 
operations  of  the  association  under  his  care. 
He  shall  call  meetings  of  the  executive  com- 
mittee, when  necessary,  preside  at  such  meet- 
ings, and  present  to  them  the  wants  of  the 
association ;  and  he  shall  sign  all  orders  drawn 


DISCIPLINE.  71 

on  the  treasurer  for  the  use  of  the  association 
as  appropriated  by  the  committee. 

Sec.  3.  The  treasurer  shall  take  charge  of 
and  hold  in  trust  all  the  funds  and  papers  of 
value  belonging  to  the  association,  subject  to 
the  direction  of  the  executive  committee,  and 
the   orders  of  the  president. 

Sec.  4.  The  secretary  shall  keep  a  record  of 
all  the  business  transactions  of  the  association, 
and  conduct  its  correspondence;  and  at  the  re- 
quest of  the  executive  committee  he  shall  de- 
vote his  whole  time  to  the  interests  of  the 
association. 

Sec.  5.  The  executive  committee  shall  hold 
annual  meetings,  or  any  time  at  the  call  of  the 
president,  to  provide  ways  and  means  to  carry 
into  successful  operation  the  plan  and  purposes 
of  this  association,  and  appropriate  money  to 
defray  all  necessary  expenses,  and  they  shall 
fill  all  vacancies  occurring  in  the  offices  of  the 
association. 

ARTICLE   IV. 

Sec.  I.  The  funds  coming  into  the  treasury 
shall  be  used  as  follows  : 

I.  To  assist  in  organizing  and  sustaining 
Sabbath-schools  in  such  localities  and  manner 


72  DISCIPLINE. 

as  the  executive  committee  may  think  advisa- 
ble. 

2.  To  aid  the  publishing  house  in  the  publi- 
cation of  books  for  the  use  of  Sabbath-schools. 

3,  To  conduct  the  business  of  the  associa- 
tion. 

Sec.  2.  When  such  aid  is  needed  those  mak- 
ing the  application  shall  organize  a  United 
Brethren  Sabbath-school  by  electing  officers 
and  adopting  the  regulations  of  this  associa- 
tion, and  make  known  the  fact  of  such  action 
to  the  secretary,  as  well  as  the  kind  and 
amount  of  help  needed,  and  upon  a  favorable 
consideration  of  the  application,  such  supplies 
as  may  be  considered  necessary  and  advisable 
shall  be  furnished ;  such  donation  shall,  how- 
ever, not  be  continued  when  no  church  organ- 
ization can  be  effected  in  a  reasonable  time. 

ARTICLE    v. 

Each  conference  shall  at  some  suitable  time 
during  its  annual  sessions  hold  a  Sabbath- 
school  anniversary  meeting,  for  the  purpose  of 
advancing  the  objects  and  interests  of  the  as- 
sociation. 

ARTICLE    VI. 

It  shall  be  the  duty  of  all   our   preachers, 


DISCIPLINE.  73 

whether  local  or  traveling,  to  exert  their  influ- 
ence in  favor  of  this  organization,  and  to  assist 
in  organizing  and  sustaining  United  Brethren 
Sabbath-schools  in  our  houses  of  worship,  and 
union  Sabbath-schools  wherever  it  may  be 
practicable  ;  and  those  in  charge  of  a  work 
shall  preach  on  the  subject  of  Sabbath-schools 
at  least  once  a  year  at  each  appointment,  and 
report  the  following  items  to  the  annual  con- 
ference : 

1st.  The  number  of  schools  organized.  2d. 
The  number  of  scholars  enrolled.  3d.  The 
number  of  teachers  appointed.  4th.  The 
amount  of  money  collected,  first,  for  the  use  of 
schools,  secondly,  for  general  fund. 

ARTICLE  VII. 

Sec.  I.  The  superintendents  of  Sabbath- 
schools  shall  be  elected  annually,  and,  when 
members  of  the  Church,  shall  be  members  of 
quarterly  conference,  and  shall  be  responsible 
to  that  body  for  their  moral  and  official  con- 
duct, and  may  be  dismissed  for  any  delinquen- 
cy, and  the  quarterly  conference  appoint  one 
to  fill  the  vacancy  until  another  election  can 
be  held. 

Sec.  2.  The  superintendent  shall  be  a  mem- 


74  DISCIPLINE. 

ber  of  the  Church  of  the  United  Brethren  in 
Christ,  except  when  there  is  no  suitable  mem- 
ber of  our  Church  ;  then  some  other  competent 
person  may  be  elected. 

ARTICLE    VIII. 

All  persons  whose  names  are  recorded  on  the 
roll-book,  and  have  become  generally  attentive, 
are  members  of  our  Sabbath-schools. 

SECTION   XXXI. 

ORDER    TO    BE    OBSERVED    IN    BUILDING 
MEETING-HOUSES. 

Ques.  Is  anything  advisable  in  regard  to 
the  building  of  meeting-houses  ? 

Ans.  Let  all  our  meeting-houses  be  built 
plain  and  neat,  with  free  seats,  and  not  more 
expensive  than  necessary. 

Ques.  To  whom  are  our  meeting-houses,  and 
the  premises  belonging  to  them,  to  be  deeded .? 

Ans.  To  a  board  of  trustees,  who  shall  in 
all  cases  have  warranty  deeds  legally  executed 
and  made  to  them  and  their  successors  in  office, 
in  trust  for  the  Church  of  the  United  Brethren 
in  Christ,  who  shall  have  the  same  recorded  in 
the  county  records  where  the  property  is  situ- 
ated. 


DISCIPLINE.  75 

Ques.  How  is  the  board  of  trustees  to  be 
constituted  ? 

Ans.  Whenever  it  is  contemplated  by  a  so- 
ciety to  purchase  or  build  a  meeting-house,  it 
shall  be  the  duty  of  a  leader  or  steward  of  such 
society  to  make  it  known  to  the  quarterly  con- 
ference of  the  circuit  or  station  to  which  he 
belongs,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  appoint  a 
judicious  board  of  trustees,  where  the  law  of 
the  state  does  not  otherwise  provide,  of  not 
less  than  three  in  number,  or  as  the  law  of  the 
state  in  which  said  house  is  to  be  built  may 
direct ;  provided,  however,  that  at  least  a  ma- 
jority of  such  board  of  trustees  shall  be  mem- 
bers of  our  Church.  The  trustees  shall  hold 
their  office  during  the  pleasure  of  the  quarterly 
conference. 

Qiies.  How  are  the  trustees  to  proceed  in 
building  a  house  ? 

Ans.  No  society  shall  commence  the  build- 
ing of  any  meeting-house  without  first  getting 
an  act  of  incorporation,  where  the  law  of  the 
state  requires  it.  They  shall  form  an  estimate 
of  the  amount  necessary  to  procure  a  lot,  to 
build,  and  to  make  such  other  improvements 
as  may  be  conceived  necessary.  And  they 
shall  at  no  time  proceed  with  the  building  of  a 
house  of  worship  beyond  the  means,  either  in 


76  DISCIPLINE. 

hand,  or  sufficiently  secured,  so  as  to  avoid  in- 
volving our  houses  of  worship  in  any  way  in 
debt. 

The  trustees  shall  hold  annual  meetings,  or 
oftener  if  need  be,  and  shall  elect  from  their 
number  the  following  officers,  namely,  a  presi- 
dent, secretary,  and  treasurer.  The  meetings 
of  the  board  shall  be  subject  to  the  call  of  the 
president.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  secretary 
to  keep  a  correct  record  of  all  the  business 
transactions  of  the  board,  in  a  book  provided 
for  that  purpose,  which  shall  at  all  times  be 
open  for  inspection  by  the  quarterly  conference 
of  the  charge  having  the  care  of  the  property. 
The  treasurer  shall  receive  all  funds  for  meet- 
ing-house, cemetery,  and  parsonage  purposes, 
and  pay  out  the  same  under  the  direction  of 
the  board,  and  report  to  the  board  the  financial 
condition  at  their  several  meetings. 

Ques.  What  shall  be  done  when  a  vacancy 
or  vacancies  occur  in  the  board  of  trustees  ? 

Ans.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  quarterly 
conference  to  appoint  a  suitable  person  or  per- 
sons to  fill  such  vacancies, 

Ques.  What  shall  be  done  when  any  of  our 
houses  are  vacant  ? 

Ans.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  quarterly 
conference  of  the  nearest  circuit  or  station  to 


DISCIPLINE.  77 

appoint  not  less  than  three  suitable  persons  for 
trustees,  who  shall  have  the  power,  when  au- 
thorized by  two  thirds  of  the  members  of  that 
conference,  to  lease,  rent,  or  sell  such  meeting- 
house, and  the  appurtenances  belonging  to  it ; 
and  to  appropriate  the  money  arising  from 
such  lease,  rent,  or  sale,  by  the  direction  of 
said  conference,  toward  the  erection  of  new 
meeting-houses,  or  the  liquidation  of  debts  on 
old  ones.  If  the  vacated  house  be  a  parson- 
age, the  proceeds  shall  be  disposed  of  in  like 
manner  ;  but  in  every  case  the  proceeds  arising 
from  the  lease,  rent,  or  sale  of  parsonage 
property  shall  be  kept  sacred  for  parsonage 
purposes.  When  a  lot  is  deeded  to  an  English 
United  Brethren  society,  or  to  a  German  Unit- 
ed Brethren  society,  and  one  or  the  other 
party  cease  to  exist  in  an  organized  form  by 
deaths,  removals,  expulsions,  or  otherwise,  the 
remaining  organized  class  shall  have  full  right 
to  make  such  improvements  or  repairs  on  said 
lot,  as  may  be  needed  for  worship,  and  a 
peaceable  possession. 

The  above  rules  to  be  observed  in  purchas- 
ing or  building  parsonage-houses. 

It  shall  be  the  duty  of  our  presiding  elders, 
as  soon  as  convenient,  to  appoint,  or  see  that 
three  or  five  suitable    persons  are  appointed, 


78  DISCIPLINE. 

with  the  consent  of  the  quarterly  conference, 
to  take  up  subscriptions  to  build  or  purchase 
parsonage-houses  for  their  respective  stations 
or  circuits,  the  same  to  be  deeded  to  those 
three  or  five  trustees,  and  their  successors  in 
office,  for  the  use  of  the  Church  of  the  United 
Brethren  in  Christ.  We  recommend  that  all 
our  parsonage-houses  be  plain,  and  located  in 
some  central  place. 

SECTION      XXXII. 

SINGING. 

We  believe  it  to  be  the  duty  of  all  the  peo- 
ple of  God  to  sing  his  praises ;  and  to  sing 
them  in  the  great  congregation  as  well  as  in 
the  private  circle.  We  therefore  earnestly 
recommend  to  all  our  people  the  cultivation  of 
vocal  music,  so  that  the  singing  in  our  congre- 
gations may  be  improved.  As  a  help  to  this 
end,  we  advise  all  our  people  to  provide  them- 
selves with  hymn-books  for  use  in  times  of 
public  and  social  worship. 

We  would  counsel  our  societies  to  avoid  the 
introduction  of  choirs  and  instrumental  music 
into  their  worship. 


DISCIPLINE.  79 

SECTION   XXXIII 

CONSTITUTION    OF    THE    MISSIONARY    SO- 
CIETY. 

I.  This  society  shall  be  called  the  "  Home, 
Frontier,  and  Foreign  Missionary  Society  of 
the  United  Brethren  in  Christ,"  and  is  organ- 
ized for  the  purpose  of  aiding  the  annual  con- 
ferences in  extending  their  missionary  labors 
throughout  the  country,  and  into  foreign  and 
heathen  lands. 

II.  The  payment  of  ten  dollars  at  one  time 
shall  constitute  a  life  member,  or  fifty  dollars 
at  one  time  a  life  director.  No  certificate  of 
life  membership  or  life  directorship  shall  be 
granted  until  the  full  amount  is  paid. 

III.  The  officers  of  this  society  shall  consist 
of  a  president,  three  vice-presidents,  secre- 
tary, treasurer,  and  six  directors,  who,  to- 
gether, shall  constitute  a  board  of  directors ; 
and  shall  be  elected  every  four  years  by  the 
General  Conference. 

IV.  The  president  shall  preside  at  all  irieet- 
ings  of  the  Board,  and  shall  have  power,  in 
conjunction  with  the  secretary,  to  call  special 
meetings.  In  the  absence  of  the  president, 
one  of  the  vice-presidents  shall  fill  his  place. 

V.  The  secretary  shall  keep  a  correct  record 


80  DISCIPLINE. 

of  all  the  proceedings  of  the  society,  conduct 
its  correspondence,  and  devote  himself  ex- 
clusively to  the  interests  of  the  society.  He 
shall  keep  a  record  of  all  the  life  members,, 
life  directors,  legacies,  etc.,  etc.  He  shall  also 
make  out,  and  publish,  under  the  direction  of 
the  Board,  an  annual  report  of  the  whole  mis- 
sionary work  ;  also  a  quadrennial  report  to 
the  General  Conference.  His  salary  shall  be 
determined  by  the  Board,  according  to  the 
Discipline. 

VI.  The  treasurer  shall  hold  the  funds  of 
the  society,  subject  to  the  order  of  the  Board, 
and,  at  the  discretion  of  the  Board,  devote 
himself  exclusively  to  the  interests  of  the  Mis- 
sionary Society. 

VII.  The  Board  of  Directors  shall  hold  an- 
nual meetings ;  have  power  to  appoint  an  ex- 
ecutive committee,  consisting  of  five  members; 
make  by-laws  to  regulate  its  own  business;  ap- 
propriate money  to  defray  incidental  expenses; 
employ  missionaries  and  agents ;  open  new 
missions;  make  appropriations  to  mission-con- 
ferences ;  employ  laborers  for  mission-districts; 
dissolve  mission-conferences  ;  fill  vacancies  in 
its  own  body  ;  in  connection  with  the  bishops 
or  any  one  of  them,  ordain  ministers  to  the 
office  of  elder  ;  and  publish,  at  our  own  press, 


DISCIPLINE.  81 

such  matter  as  the  cause  may  from   time  to 
time  demand. 

VIII.  Each  missionary  in  the  employ  of  the 
Board  shall  report  quarterly  to  the  secretary 
the  condition  of  his  mission;  and  no  mission- 
ary shall  be  entitled  to  his  salary  who  shall 
neglect  to  comply  with  this  requirement.  The 
presiding  elders  of  mission-conferences  shall 
report  quarterly  the  condition  of  their  respect- 
ive works. 

IX.  Each  conference  shall  be  considered  a 
branch  of  this  society,  and  shall  elect  a  treas- 
urer and  secretary,  i.  The  branch  treasurer 
shall  hold  the  funds  designed  for  the  Board, 
subject  to  its  order.  2.  The  branch  secretary 
shall  keep  a  record  of  the  proceedings  of  the 
annual  conference  in  relation  to  home,  frontier, 
and  foreign  missions,  separately,  and  report 
the  same  immediately  after  the  session  of  the 
conference  to  the  secretary  of  the  Board. 

He  shall  report  the  number  of  missions,  ap- 
pointments. Sabbath -schools,  scholars,  and 
teachers  ;  what  paid  on  missions  as  salary ; 
what  collected  for  missions  on  missions  ;  what 
collected  for  missions  in  the  whole  conference; 
how  much  paid  the  parent  Board,  and  how 

much  paid  to  home  missions  ;  and  the  names 
6 


82  DISCIPLINE. 

and  post-office  addresses  of  life  directors  and 
life  members. 

The  branch  secretaries  shall  be  responsible 
to  their  respective  annual  conferences  for  the 
faithful  discharge  of  their  duties. 

Each  of  our  Sabbath-schools  is  hereby  con- 
stituted an  auxiliary  to  the  branch  society  with- 
in whose  limits  it  is  located ;  and  the  superin- 
tendent, secretary,  and  treasurer  of  the 
Sabbath-school  shall  be  president,  secretary, 
and  treasurer  of  the  said  auxiliary,  and  shall 
report  annually,  through  the  preacher  in 
charge,  to  the  branch  society. 

Said  preacher  is  to  notify  the  above-named 
officers,  at  the  close  of  each  conference  year, 
that  such  report  is  due,  and,  if  need  be,  assist 
in  its  preparation. 

Any  person  may  become  a  life  member  of 
the  auxiliary  by  the  payment  of  three  dollars, 
and  shall  be  entitled  to  a  certificate  of  life 
membership. 

X.  The  branch  societies,  or  individual  mem- 
bers, may  specify  to  what  particular  portion  oi 
the  work  their  funds  shall  be  applied  ;  provid- 
ed, however,  that  if  more  is  thus  designated 
than  is  necessary  for  the  work  specified,  it  may 
be  applied  to  some  other  work,  as  the  Board 
shall  determine. 


DISCIPLINE.  83 

XI.  Each  branch  society  shall  have  the  ex- 
clusive management  of  the  home  missions 
within  its  own  limits  ;  provided,  however,  that 
the  missionary  Board  shall  be  permitted  to 
open  and  operate  missions  within  the  bounds 
of  any  annual  conference  by  the  consent  of 
such  conference. 

XII.  Treasurers  of  the  parent  Board  and  of 
the  branch  society  shall  give  approved  security. 

XIII.  All  bequests  or  donations,  the  interest 
of  which  is  to  go  to  missionary  purposes,  made 
to  any  of  the  above  societies,  shall  be  kept 
sacred. 

Form  of  Bequest. — I  give  and  bequeath  to 
the  Home,  Frontier,  and  Foreign  Missionary 
Society  of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ,  or- 
ganized by  the  General  conference  of  said 
Church,  May  20,  1853,  and  incorporated  in 
Butler  County,  Ohio,   September  23,  1854,  the 

sum  of  dollars  ;    and  the  receipt   of  the 

treasurer  of  the  society  shall  be  a  sufficient 
discharge  thereof  to  my  executors  and  admin- 
istrators. 

SECTION    XXXIV. 

CHURCH-ERECTION  SOCIETY. 
I.   This  society  shall  be    known    as    The 


84  DISCIPLINE. 

Church-erection  Society  of  the  Church  of  the 
United  Brethren  in  Christ,  and  is  organized  for 
the  purpose  of  aiding  feeble  societies  in  the 
erection  of  houses  of  worship. 

II.  The  Board  of  Missions  shall  constitute 
the  Board  of  Managers  of  this  society,  and 
shall  be  governed  by  the  constitution  and  by- 
laws of  the  Missionary  Society  so  far  as  they 
are  applicable  to  this  society. 

III.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  preachers  in 
charge  in  their  respective  fields  of  labor 
throughout  the  Church  to  solicit  donations  an- 
nually to  the  funds  of  this  society,  and  pay 
them  over  to  an  annual-conference  treasurer 
elected  by  themselves  for  that  purpose,  who 
shall  transmit  them  to  the  treasurer  of  the 
parent  Board  of  Missions  at  Dayton,  Ohio. 

IV.  The  treasurer  of  the  parent  Board  of 
Missions  shall  receipt  for  all  moneys  sent  him 
by  the  various  conference  treasurers,  that  they 
may  make  settlement  with  their  respective  an- 
nual conferences. 

V.  Application  for  aid  from  this  society 
must  be  made  to  the  Board  of  Managers, 
through  the  presiding  elder  of  the  district  and 
the  preacher  in  charge  of  the  circuit,  station, 
or  mission  where  such  house  is  to  be  erected, 
who  shall  state  in  writing  the  condition  of  the 


DISCIPLINE.  86 

society  desiring  such  aid,  the  prospects  of  suc- 
cess, and  the  security  of  the  investment. 

VI.  Should  any  society  thus  aided  lose  its 
organization,  so  as  to  make  the  sale  of  such 
house  necessary,  then,  out  of  the  proceeds  of 
such  sale,  the  amount  loaned  them,  with  inter- 
est, shall  be  refunded  to  the  parent  Board. 

VII.  The  Board  shall  make  no  appropria- 
tions where  there  is  reasonable  prospect  that 
the  society  asking  aid  can  succeed  without  it ; 
or  where  there  is  no  prospect  of  building  up  a 
good  society. 

VIII.  All  aid  rendered  shall  be  only  as  a 
loan,  the  principal  to  be  refunded,  without  in- 
terest, at  such  times  as  the  Board  may  direct, 
but  in  no  case  for  a  longer  term  than  five  years 
at  any  one  time  ;  nor  shall  loans  be  negotiated 
when  the  loan  will  not  free  the  Church  from  all 
indebtedness  ;  nor  shall  moneys  be  loaned  to 
any  society  until  their  church  property  is  se- 
cured by  deed  as  provided  for  in  Section  xxxi. 
of  Discipline ;  nor  shall  moneys  be  loaned  to 
churches  until  their  trustees  have  forwarded 
their  notes,  secured  by  first  mortgage  on  the 
premises  and  properly  recorded  in  the  records 
of  the  courts  for  the  inspection  of  the  Board  of 
Managers  or  Executive  Committee. 


86  DISCIPLINE. 

IX.  We  further  recommend  to  the  Board  of 
Managers  the  employment  of  one  or  more 
special  agents  ;  provided,  however,  that  said 
agency  shall  not  be  continued  for  a  longer 
term  than  three  months,  unless  it  be  apparent 
that  said  agency  is  a  moneyed  success  to  the 
society. 

SECTION    XXXIV. 

RULES  AND  REGULATIONS  OF  OUR  PRINTING 
ESTABLISHMENT,  IN  DAYTON,  OHIO. 

»  Rule  I.  The  above  establishment  shall  be 
called  "The  Printing  Establishment  of  the 
United  Brethren  in  Christ. 

Rule  2.  The  legislative  authority  herein 
granted  shall  be  vested  in  the  General  Confer- 
ence of  said  Church,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to 
elect  the  necessary  officers  not  otherwise  pro- 
vided for,  and  make  or  amend  any  rules  as  in 
their  judgment  may  seem  expedient. 

Rule  3.  The  proceeds  of  said  establishment, 
over  and  above  contingent  expenses,  shall  be 
applied  to  the  benefit  of  traveling  and  worn- 
out  preachers,  and  their  widows  and  orphans  ; 
this  division  to  occur  equally  and  annually 
among  the  different  annual  conferences. 

Rule  4.  A  hoard  of  seven  trustees,  elected  by 


DISCIPLINE.  87 

the  General  Conference,  shall  take  the  over- 
sight of  the  establishment. 

Rule  5.  The  officers  of  the  establishment 
shall  consist  of  seven  trustees,  one  agent,  and 
such  number  of  editors  as  the  General  Confer- 
ence shall  deem  necessary. 

Rule  6.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  trustees  to 
fix  the  salaries  of  agent  and  editors,  to  make 
settlement  with  the  officers  of  the  establish- 
ment every  six  months,  and  see  that  they  prop- 
erly discharge  their  duties,  and,  if  found  dere- 
lict, may  suspend  them  from  office  until  the 
General  Conference;  provided,  no  such  officers 
shall  be  suspended  until  they  have  been  fur- 
nished with  a  copy  of  the  complaints  in  writing, 
and  have  had  an  opportunity  of  defense  before 
the  Board  of  Trustees.  They  shall  also  have 
the  privilege  of  making  any  by-laws  which 
may  seem  expedient  for  the  better  regulation 
of  the  minor  concerns  of  the  office ;  provided, 
they  do  not  violate  any  part  of  the  foregoing 
rules. 

Rule  7.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  agent  to 
take  charge  of  the  temporal  concerns  of  the 
office,  furnish  such  material  as  may  be  needed, 
and  to  act  as  the  general  book  agent  under  the 
direction  of  the  Board  of  Trustees.  He  shall 
prepare  and  publish  a  report  annually,  through 


88  DISCIPLINE. 

the  Religions  Telescope  and  yoyftil  Messenger, 
and  shall  also  make  a  report  to  the  General 
Conference. 

Rule  8.  Should  a  vacancy  occur  in  any  of 
the  offices  of  the  establishment,  or  in  the  Board 
of  Trustees,  the  trustees  may  fill  said  vacancy, 
until  the  sitting  of  the  next  General  Confer- 
ence. 

Rule  9.  No  editors  or  officers  employed  in 
the  establishment  shall  accept  any  office  or  en- 
gage in  any  business  which  will  interfere  with 
the  duties  of  his  office. 

SECTION    XXV. 

MARRIAGE  CEREMONY. 

ADDRESS. 

We  are  gathered  together  in  the  sight  of  God, 
and  in  the  presence  of  these  witnesses,  to  join 
together  N.  and  M.  as  husband  and  wife.  If 
any  person  present  knows  any  just  cause  or  im- 
pediment why  these  persons  should  not  be  join- 
ed in  marriage,  let  the  same  now  speak,  or  for- 
ever after  keep  silent. 

[If  no  impediment  be  alleged,  then  shall  the 
minister  say  unto  the  man  :] 

"N.,  wilt  thou  have  this  woman  to  be  thy 


DISCIPLINE.  80 

wedded  wife,  to  live  together  after  God's  ordin- 
ance ?  Wilt  thou  love,  honor,  and  comfort  her, 
in  sickness  and  in  health,  in  prosperity  and 
adversity,  and  forsaking  all  others,  keep  thee 
only  unto  her  so  long  as  ye  both  shall  live  ? 
If  so,  then  answer,  *  I  will.'  " 

[Then  shall  the  minister  say  to  the  woman:] 

"M.,  wilt  thou  have  this  man  to  be  thy  wed- 
ded husband,  to  live  together  after  God's  or- 
dinance ?  Wilt  thou  love,  honor,  and  obey 
him,  in  sickness  and  in  health,  in  prosperity 
and  adversity,  and  forsaking  all  others,  keep 
thee  only  unto  him  so  long  as  ye  both  shall 
live  ?     If  so,  then  answer,  'I  will.'  " 

[Then  the  minister  shall  require  them  to  join 
their  right  hands,  and  say:] 

"Those  whom  God  hath  joined  together,  let 
no  man  put  asunder.  ^ 

"Inasmuch  as  N.  and  M.  have  consented  to- 
gether in  marriage,  and  have  witnessed  the 
same  before  God  and  these  witnesses,  I  pro- 
nounce them  husband  and  wife,  in  the  name 
of  the  Father,  and  of  the  Son,  and  of  the  Holy 
Ghost.    Amen." 

Qiies.  Who  of  our  ministers  are  permitted  to 
solemnize  marriage  ? 

Ans.  All  ordained  ministers,  and  also  those 
that  have  obtained  license  from  an  annual  con- 


9(>  DISCIPLINE. 

ference,  where  the  law  of  the  state  makes  it 
the  privilege  of  every  regularly  licensed  minis- 
ter to  selemnize  marriage  ;  but  none  are  per- 
mitted to  solemnize  marriage  with  quarterly- 
conference  license. 

SECTION     XXXVI. 

BURIAL  OF  THE  DEAD. 

After  the  coffin  is  lowered  into  the  grave,  the 
minister,  if  the  deceased  is  a  child  or  an  adult 
Christian,  may  say : 

"  Man  that  is  born  of  a  woman  is  of  few  days, 
and  full  of  trouble.  He  cometh  forth  like  a 
flower,  and  is  cut  down  :  he  fleeth  also  as  a 
shadow,  and  continueth  not." 

In  the  midst  of  life  we  are  in  death.  Unto 
whom  should  we  seek  for  succor  but  unto 
Thee,  O  Lord !  who  for  our  sins  are  justly  dis- 
pleased ?  Our  hope  is  in  Thee ;  for  thou  hast 
said  :  "I  am  the  resurrection  and  the  life  ;  he 
that  believeth  in  me,  though  he  were  dead,  yet 
shall  he  live  ;  and  whosoever  liveth  and  be- 
lieveth in  me  shall  never  die." 

Inasmuch  as  God,  in  his  providence,  has 
called  out  of  time  into  eternity  the  soul  of  our 
(brother,  sister,  or  child),  we  now  commit  his 
(or  her)  body  to  the  ground, — earth  to  earth, 


DISCIPLINE.  91 

ashes  to  ashes,  dust  to  dust, — in  the  confident 
hope  that  Christ  will  raise  this  body  in  the 
great  day,  and  reunite  it  with  the  soul,  and  re- 
ceive it  to  himself.     Amen. 

SECTION    XXXVII. 

COURSE  OF  READING  AND  STUDY 

For  licentiate  preachers,  upon  which  they 
are  to  be  examined  by  the  annual  conference 
to  which  they  belong.  They  shall  be  examin- 
ed, also,  each  year  of  their  probation,  on  the 
doctrine  and  government  of  the  Church,  as 
taught  in  our  book  of  Discipline.  It  is  pre- 
sumed that  a  fair  knowledge  of  the  ordinary 
branches  of  an  English  or  German  education 
has  been  acquired  before  entering  upon  this 
course.  If  the  licentiate  does  not  possess  such 
knowledge,  he  shall  be  examined,  in  each  year, 
on  grammar  and  geography. 

FIRST   YEAR — BIBLE    DOCTRINE. 

Human  Depravity ;  The  Atonement ;  Re- 
demption ;  Repentance  ;  Justification  by  Faith; 
Regeneration ;  Adoption ;  Witness  of  the 
Spirit ;  Christian  Perfection ;  Possibility  of 
Final  Apostasy. 

Books   Required. — Bible ;     Watson's     Insti- 


92  DISCIPLINE. 

tutes  ;  Shedd's  Homiletics  to  Lecture  XVI.; 
Ripley's  Sacred  Rhetoric  ;  Fletcher's  Appeal ; 
History  of  the  Unite^  Brethren  in  Christ ;  an 
essay  or  written  sermon. 

Books  Recommended. — Bridges'  Christiai 
Ministry  ;  Upham's  Life  of  Faith  ;  Philosophy 
of  the  Plan  of  Salvation  ;  Whateley's  Rhetoric  ; 
Shedd's  Christian  Doctrine. 

SECOND    YEAR — BIBLE    DOCTRINE. 

Existence  and  Attributes  of  God  ;  Trinity  ; 
Divinity  and  Humanity  of  Christ ;  Personality 
and  Deity  of  the  Holy  Ghost ;  Immortality  of 
the  Soul  ;  Resurrection  of  the  Body  ;  Future 
General  Judgment ;  Eternal  Rewards  and  Pun- 
ishments. 

Books  Requh'ed. — Bible;  Watson's  Institutes, 
continued  ;  Shedd's  Homiletics  from  Lecture 
XVI.  to  the  end  ;  i^«i4z^~Ch4irGh-Wi«t^yrVt)l. 
I.;  Mosheim's  Church  History,  to  the  Reforma-  • 
tion  ;  Alexander's  Evidences  of  Christianity ; 
Wayland's  Moral  Science;  written  sermon. 

Books  Recommended. — Upham's  Interior 
Life  ;  Neander's  Planting  and  Training  of  the 
Christian  Church  (Robinson's  translation)  ; 
Jahn's  Archaeology ;  Haven's  Mental  Philos- 
ophy ;  Weber's  Universal  History ;  Shedd's 
Homiletics. 


DISCIPLINE.  93 

THIRD    YEAR — BIBLE    INSTITUT JONS. 

The  Christian  Sabbath  ;  the  Lord's  Supper  ; 
Christian  Baptism. 

Books  Required. — Bible  ;  Ralston's  Elements 
of  Divinity;  ICn  rtx '  r  6ht3  rcj^.  History,  Vol .  IL ; 
Mosheim's  Church  History,  from  the  Reforma- 
tion to  the  close ;  Coleman's  Geographical 
.History  of  the  Bible ;  Butler's  Analogy  ;  Mc- 
Clelland's  Canon  and  Interpretation  of  Script- 
ure ;  Whately's  Logic;  written  sermon. 

Books  Reco7nmetided. — Vinet's  Homiletics  ; 
D'Aubigne's  History  of  the  Reformation  ;  Jo- 
sephus'  Antiquities  of  the  Jews ;  Hackett's 
Illustrations  of  Scripture ;  Upham's  Divine 
Union  ;  Gilfillan  on  the  Sabbath. 

Any  licentiate  who  fails  to  read  the  books 
required,  and  to  submit  to  the  examination, 
shall,  at  the  close  of  the  third  year  of  his  pro- 
bation at  farthest,  be  erased  from  the  annual- 
conference  record,  unless  a  reasonable  excuse 
can  be  given  for  such  failure. 

No  candidate  for  the  ministry  shall  receive 
ordination  until  he  has  completed  his  course  of 
study,  except  in  extraordinary  cases,  such  as 
missionaries,  and  persons  who  have  otherwise 
received  a  fair  theological  training. 


94  DISCIPLINE. 

GERMAN    COURSE   OF    READING. 

First  Year. — Bible  ;  Discipline  ;  History  of 
the  United  Brethren  Church  ;  Clark's  Hand- 
book;  Fletcher's  Appeal ;  Nelson  on  Infidelity; 
Herr  on  Justification  ;  Heyse's  German  Gram- 
mar; written  sermon. 

Second  Year. — Bible;  Church  History  ;  Dis- 
cipline, and  Grammar  continued ;  Buck's 
Theological  Dictionary ;  D'Aubigne's  Refor- 
mation ;  Zellers  on  the  Soul  ;  Philosophy  of  the 
Plan  of  Salvation  ;  essay. 

Third  Year. — Bible,  Discipline,  and  Gram- 
mar continued;  Lisco's  Apostolic  Creed;  Pref- 
ace to  Nast's  Commentary;  Nast  on  the  God- 
Man  Christ ;  Arnold  on  the  First  Love. 

SECTION   XXXIX. 

CHARTERS. 

Whereas,  the  laws  of  certain  states  require 
churches  and  institutions  to  be  incorporated,  in 
order  to  be  recognized  by  law  : 

Therefore,  in  such  cases,  the  quarterly  con- 
ference of  the  respective  circuits,  stations,  and 
missions  shall  appoint  a  competent  committee, 
consisting  of  three,  who  shall  apply  to  the 
proper  source  for  an  act  of  incorporation  on 
all  the  church  property  within  the  bounds  of 


DISCIPLINE.  95 

such  circuits,  stations,  or  missions  ;  and  at  the 
last  quarterly  conference  of  each  year,  the 
presiding  elder  shall  examine  said  committee 
in  reference  to  the  above  subject. 

2.  When  legacies  are  bequeathed  to  the 
Church,  the  names  of  the  presiding  bishops 
should  be  inserted  in  the  will  of  the  testator,  to 
be  under  the  control  of  said  bishops  and  their 
successors  in  office,  to  be  appropriated  to  the 
purpose  specified  by  the  donors. 

SECTION    XL. 

CERTIFICATES. 

When  members  of  our  society  move  from 
one  field  of  labor  to  another,  they  shall  obtain 
a  certificate,  by  the  vote  of  a  majority  of  the 
class  to  which  they  belong,  signed  by  a  preach- 
er or  leader,  except  where  they  are  not  in  reach 
of  a  class,  in  which  case  any  of  our  preachers 
may  give  a  certificate  to  such  persons,  if  they 
are  known  to  be  in  good  standing. 

FORM   OP    CERTIFICATE. 

This  is  to  certify  that  A.  B.  is  a  member  of 
good  standing  in  the  Church  of  the  United 
Brethren  in   Christ,  at ,  and  is  hereby 


96  DISCIPLINE. 

recommended  to  the  confidence  and  fellowship 
of  Christians  everywhere. 
[Dates,  etc.] 

FORM   OF   TRANSFER. 

This  is  to  certify  that is  a  regular 

or in  the  Church  of  the  United  Breth- 
ren in  Christ,  of annual  conference,  and 

is  hereby  transferred  to annual  confer- 
ence of  said  Church. 

SECTION   XLI. 

BOUNDARIES  OF  CONFERENCES. 

Virginia  Conference. — Beginning  at  the  south- 
east corner  of  the  State  of  Virginia ;  thence 
along  the  western  shore  of  the  Chesapeake 
Bay  to  Baltimore ;  thence  to  Westminster ; 
thence  to  the  summit  of  the  South  Mountain, 
on  the  state  line  between  Maryland  and  Penn- 
sylvania; thence  west  on  said  line  to  the  sum- 
mit of  the  Alleghany  Mountain ;  thence  south, 
along  the  summit  of  said  mountain,  to  the 
state  line  between  Virginia  and  North  Carolina; 
thence  east  on  said  line  to  the  place  of  begin- 
ning. The  Virginia  Conference  shall  also  in- 
clude all  the  appointments  embraced  in  the 
Alleghany  and  New  Germany   circuits,  now 


DISCirLINE.  "97 

occupied  by  the  said  conference  within  the 
limits  of  the  Parkersbiirg  Conference. 

East  PcnnsyhniJiia  Conference, — Beginning 
at  the  point  where  the  line  between  Penn- 
sylvania and  Maryland  crosses  the  Susquehan- 
na River;  thence  to  the  south-east  corner  of 
Snyder  County;  thence  along  the  south  line  of 
said  county  across  Shade  Mountain  to  the 
south-west  corner  of  Snyder  County  ;  thence 
north-west  along  the  line  of  Snyder  and  Mifflin 
counties  to  the  south-east  corner  of  Center 
County  ;  thence  along  the  line  of  Center 
and  Union  counties  to  the  north-west  corner 
of  Union  County;  thence  north-east,  along 
the  line  of  Clinton  and  Union  counties, 
across  the  West  Branch ;  thence  along  the 
West  Branch  to  the  north-west  corner  of  North- 
umberland County  ;  thence  north-west  to  the 
south-west  corner  of  Bradford  County;  thence 
due  north  to  the  New  York  state  line,  embrac- 
ing all  that  part  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania 
east  of  the  above  line, 

Pennsyh'ani'a  Conference. — Beginning  on  the 
summit  of  the  South  Mountain,  on  the  line  be- 
tween Maryland  and  Pennsylvania;  thence  to 
Westminster,  Maryland;  thence  to  Baltimore, 
including  that  city  ;  thence  along  the  Chesa- 
peake Bay  and  Susquehanna  River  to  the 
7 


98  DISCIPLINE. 

Juniata  River;  thence  up  said  river  to  its  source; 
thence  south,  so  as  not  to  interfere  with  any 
territory  occupied  by  the  Alleghany  Confer- 
ence, to  the  line  between  Maryland  and  Penn- 
sylvania ;  thence,  east  to  the  place  of  begin- 
ning. 

AllegJiiiny  Cofi/erence. — Beginning  at  the 
south-west  corner  of  Mercer  County,  Pennsyl- 
vania; thence  east  to  a  point  due  south  of  the 
south-east  corner  of  Cattaraugus  County,  New 
York;  thence  north  to  the  line  between  Penn- 
sylvania and  New  York;  thence  east  to  the  line 
of  the  East  Pennsylvania  Conference  ;  thence 
along  the  line  of  said  conference  to  the  mouth 
of  the  Juniata  River  ;  thence  up  said  river  to 
its  source;  thence  along  the  line  of  the  Penn- 
sylvania Conference  to  the  Maryland  and 
Pennsylvania  state  line,  embracing  all  that 
part  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania  south  and 
west  of  the  above  described  lines. 

Krie  Conference. — Beginning  on  the  shore  of 
Lake  Erie,  on  the  west  side  of  Erie  City;  thence 
along  the  old  pike  to  Meadville;  thence  down 
French  Creek  to  the  Alleghany  River;  thence 
down  said  river  to  the  line  of  the  Alleghany 
Conference  ;  thence  east  to  a  point  due  south 
of  the  east  line  of  Potter  County,  Pennsylvania; 
ihence  due  north  on  the  east  line  of  said  coun- 


DISCIPLINE.  99 

ty  to  the  state  line  of  New  York,  including  the 
State  of  New  York  and  all  that  part  of  Penn- 
sylvania embraced  within  the  above-described 
line. 

Wesier7i  Reserve  Co7iference. — Beginning  on 
the  lake  shore  on  the  west  side  of  Erie  City ; 
thence  along  the  west  line  of  the  Erie  Confer- 
ence to  Lawrencebiirg,  on  the  Alleghany  River; 
thence  west  to  the  Ohio  state  line  at  the  south- 
west corner  of  Mercer  County,  Penn.;  thence 
along  the  state  line  south,  to  the  Pennsylvania 
and  Ohio  Railroad  ;  thence  west,  embracing 
Pleasant  Valley,  Paradise,  and  Carr  appoint- 
ments, with  said  railroad,  to  the  west  line  of 
Ashland  County,  Ohio  ;  thence  north  to  the 
mouth  of  Vermillion  River  ;  thence  east  along 
the  shore  of  Lake  Erie  to  the  place  of  begin- 
ning. 

Muskmguni  Conference. — Beginning  at  a 
point  where  the  Pennsylvania  and  Ohio  Rail- 
road crosses  the  line  between  Pennsylvania 
and  Ohio  ;  thence  west  on  the  line  of  said  rail- 
road to  the  west  line  of  Ashland  County,  Ohio, 
embracing  Warner's  Chapel,  Benjamin  War- 
ner's, and  Lower's  appointments  ;  thence  south 
to  the  north  line  of  Knox  County  ;  thence  west 
ta  the  north-west  corner  of  said  county  ;  thence 
south  to  the  south-west  corner  of  Knox  County; 


100  DISCIPLINE. 

thence  east  along  the  hnes  of  Knox  and  Co- 
shocton counties,  to  Dresden  ;  thence  down 
the  Muskingum  River  to  its  mouth  ;  thence  up 
the  Ohio  River  and  Ohio  state  Hne  to  the  place 
of  beginning, 

Scioto  Conft'7^er.ce. — Beginning  at  Dresden, 
on  the  Muskingum  River,  thence  west  on  the 
south  lines  of  Coshocton  and  Knox  counties  to 
the  south-west  corner  of  Knox  County  ;  thence 
to  the  north-west  corner  of  Trenton  Township, 
Delaware  County ;  thence  to  the  south-east 
corner  of  Genoa  Township,  of  the  same  county; 
thence  west  on  the  Delaware  County  line  to 
the  Whetstone  River ;  thence  to  the  north- 
west corner  of  Madison  County  ;  thence  south, 
embracing  P^ayette,  Highland,  and  a  part  of 
Brown  County,  to  Ripley,  on  the  Ohio  River; 
thence  up  said  river  to  the  mouth  of  Muskin- 
gum River  ;  thence  up  said  river  to  Dresden, 
the  place  of  begianing. 

Sajiditsky  Confercjice. — Beginning  at  the 
mouth  of  the  A^'ermilion  River,  on  Lake  Erie  ; 
thence  on  an  air-line  south,  to  the  south-west 
corner  of  Ashland  County  ;  thence  with  the 
north  and  west  lines  of  Knox  Comity,  to  the 
south-west  corner  of  said  county  ;  thence  to 
the  north-west  corner  of  Trenton  Township, 
Delaware    County  ;  thence    to    the    south-cas: 


DISCIPLINE.  101 

corner  of  Genoa  Township,  of  the  same  county; 
thence  west  on  the  Scioto  Conference  line,  em- 
bracing Pleasant  Valley,  in  Madison  County  ; 
thence  along  the  east  and  north  lines  of  Union 
County,  to  the  south-east  corner  of  Hardin 
County ;  thence  along  the  east  line  of  said 
County  to  Forest ;  thence  with  the  Sandusky, 
Dayton,  and  Cincinnati  Railroad  to  Forest ; 
thence  west  on  the  Pittsburgh  and  Fort  Wayne 
Railroad  to  Johnstown ;  thence  to  Cairo ; 
thence  to  Kalida  ;  thence  to  Defiance  ;  thence 
down  the  Maumee  River  and  the  southern 
shore  of  Lake  Erie  to  the  place  of  beginning. 
Auglaize  Conference. — Beginning  on  the 
Ohio  and  Indiana  state  line,  at  a  point  due  west 
of  Greenville,  Ohio  ;  thence  north  to  the  Belle- 
fontaine  Railroad  ;  thence  with  said  road  to 
Winchester ;  thence  on  a  straight  line  to  the 
south-east  corner  of  Huntington  County ; 
whence  on  the  east  line  of  said  county  north  to 
Wabash  River  ;  thence  with  said  river  to  the 
crossing  of  the  Wabash  Valley  Railroad ; 
thence  with  said  railroad  to  Defiance  ;  thence 
along  the  Sandusky  Conference  line  as  de- 
scribed above,  including  Johnstown,  North 
Washington,  and  Dunkirk,  to  a  point  on  the 
west  line  of  Madison  County,  Ohio,  due  east 
of  Urbana ;  thence   to    Piqua,    including   that 


102  DISCIPLINE. 

city  ;  thence  to  Greenville  ;  thence  to  the  place 
of  beginning. 

By  special  agreement,  the  Auglaize  and 
White  River  conferences  will  occupy  the 
preaching  places  previously  occupied  by  them 
on  either  side  of  the  line,  but  shall  not  be  per- 
mitted to  take  up  any  new  appointments  not 
included  by  the  line. 

Miiuni  Cojiference. — Beginning  at  the  mouth 
of  the  Great  Miami  River ;  thence  north,  on 
the  line  between  Ohio  and  Indiana,  to  a  point 
due  west  of  Greenville,  Ohio;  thence  east  with 
the  Auglaize  Conference  line,  including  Green- 
ville and  Urbana,  to  a  point  on  the  Madison 
County  line  due  east  of  Urbana;  thence  south 
on  the  east  lines  of  the  counties  of  Clark, 
Green,  Clinton,  and  a  part  of  Brown  County,  to 
Ripley;  thence  down  the  Ohio  River  to  the 
place  of  beginning. 

North  Ohio  Co7iference. — Beginning  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Maumee  River ;  thence  up  said 
river  to  Defiance  ;  thence  with  the  Toledo, 
Wabash,  and  Western  Railroad  to  Ft.  Wayne  , 
thence  on  the  Ft.  Wayne  and  Chicago  Railroad 
to  Columbia,  Whitley  County ;  thence  due 
north  to  the  line  of  Noble  County;  thence  east 
to  the  south-east  corner  of  said  county;  thence 
north  on  the  east  line  of  Noble  and  Lagrange 


DISCIPLINE.  l(»d 

counties,  to  the  Michigan  state  line ;  thence 
west  on  said  line  to  White  Pigeon;  thence  east 
along  the  Michigan  Southern  Railroad  to  Mon- 
roe, on  Lake  Erie  ;  thence  south  along  the 
western  shore  of  said  lake  to  the  place  of  be- 
ginning. 

Michigan  Conference  embraces  all  that  part 
of  the  State  of  Michigan  lying  north  of  the 
Michigan  Southern  and  Northern  Indiana  Rail- 
road, except  that  portion  included  in  the  St. 
Joseph  Conference, 

St.  Joseph  Confei'ence. — Beginning  at  Peru, 
Indiana,  on  the  Wabash  River ;  thence  up  said 
river  to  Huntington ;  thence  by  the  Auglaize 
Conference  line  to  Ft.  Wayne  ;  thence  by  the 
Michigan  Conference  line,  as  before  described, 
to  Lake  Michigan  ;  thence  along  the  lake  shore 
to  the  line  of  Illinois  and  Indiana  ;  thence 
south  to  Beaver  Lake  ;  thence  to  the  mouth  of 
Big  Monon  Creek ;  thence  down  the  Tippeca- 
noe River  to  the  W^abash,  to  Lafayette,  includ- 
ing Lafayette ;  thence  along  the  Strawtown 
road,  including  the  town  of  Jefferson,  to  the 
Indianapolis  and  Peru  Railroad;  thence  along 
said  railroad  to  the  place  of  beginning,  includ- 
ing all  the  towns  and  churches  north  of  Ko- 
komo. 

White  Rii'cr  Conference, — Beginning  at  and 


104  DISCIPLINE. 

including  Indianapolis  and  suburbs;  thence  up 
"White  River  to  the  crossing  of  the  Indianapo- 
lis and  Peru  Railroad  ;  thence  along  said  rail- 
road to  the  Wabash  River;  thence  up  said 
fiver  to  the  Wells  County  line;  thence  south  to 
tlie  smith-east  corner  of  Huntington  County; 
then'ce  on  a  straight  line  to  Winchester;  thence 
eastward  along  the  railroad  to  the  Ohio  and 
Indiana  state  line;  thence  sotith  along  the  state 
line  to  the  south-east  corner  of  Franklin  Coun- 
ty, Indiana ;  thence  westward  to  Greensburg  ; 
thence  to  Columbus ;  thence  to  Nashville ;: 
thence  west  to  White  River ;  thence  tip  the 
tiver  to  the  south  line  of  Marion  County; 
thence  west  to  the  south-west  corner  of  said 
county ;  thence  north  to  the  north-west  corner 
of  the  same  county ;  thertce  east  on  the  north 
line  to  the  Peru  and  Indianapolis  Railtvay, 
Kokomo,  and  all  the  towns  and  churches  oft 
and  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Indianapolis  and 
Peru  Railroad,  south,  are  within  the  bounds  of 
White  River  Conference.  All  the  towns  and 
churches  north  of  Kokomo,  on  and  in  the  vi- 
cinity of  said  railroad,  are  within  the  bounds  of 
the  St.  Joseph  Conference. 

Indiana  Conference. — Beginning  at  the  south- 
east corner  of  Franklin  County,  Indiana ; 
thence  along  the  line  of  the  W^hite  River  Con- 


DISCIPLINE.  105 

ference,  as  described  in  the  boundaries  of  that 
conference,  to  the  White  River  due  west  of 
Franklin,  Indiana;  thence  down  said  river, 
and  the  Wabash,  to  the  Ohio  River  ;  thence  up 
said  river  to  the  mouth  of  the  Great  Miami 
River ;  thence  up  the  state  line  between  Ohio 
and  Indiana  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

Parkersburg  Conference. — Beginning  on  the 
summit  of  the  Alleghany  Mountain,  at  the  line 
between  Pennsylvania  and  Virginia ;  thence 
along  the  summit  of  said  mountain  south-west 
to  the  line  between  Virginia  and  North  Caro- 
lina ;  thence  west  on  said  line  to  the  south- 
west corner  of  the  State  of  Virginia;  thence 
with  the  Virginia  and  Kentucky  line  north  to 
the  Ohio  River  ;  thence  with  said  river  to  the 
Pennsylvania  state  line  ;  thence  east  on  said 
line  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

Lower  Wabash  Conference. — Beginning  at 
Gosport,  on  White  River  ;  thence  with  the  rail- 
road to  Greencastle  ;  thence  with  the  Indian- 
apolis and  Terre  Haute  Railroad  to  the  Wa- 
bash River ;  thence  up  said  river  to  the  mouth 
of  Brulett's  Creek  ;  thence  up  said  creek  to 
Cherry  Point ;  thence  west  on  the  Air-line 
Railroad  to  the  Illinois  Conference  line  ;  thence 
to  Shelbyville,  Illinois ;  thence  down  the  Okaw 
River  to  Vandalia  ;  thence  south  with  the  lili- 


106  DISCIPLINE. 

nois  Central  Railroad,  to  its  junction  with  the 
Ohio  and  Mississippi  Railroad  ;  thence  by  the 
Skillet  Fork  and  Little  Wabash  rivers  to 
Carmi ;  thence  down  the  Little  Wabash  River 
to  its  mouth  ;  thence  up  the  Wabash  and  White 
rivers  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

Upper  Wabash  Conference. — Beginning  at 
Gosport,  on  W^hite  River,  to  the  crossing  of  the 
Indianapolis  and  Peru  Railroad ;  thence  on 
the  Strawtown  road  to  Lafayette,  on  the  Wa- 
bash River  ;  thence  up  said  river  to  the  mouth 
of  Tippecanoe  River;  thence  up  said  river  to 
the  mouth  of  Big  Monon  Creek  ;  thence  in  a 
north-western  direction  to  the  north  extremity 
of  Beaver  Lake ;  thence  to  Kankakee  City ; 
thence  south  along  the  Chicago  Branch  of  the 
Illinois  Central  Railroad  to  Urbana ;  thence 
south-west,  in  the  direction  of  Shelbyville,  to 
the  crossing  of  the  Air-line  Railroad  ;  thence 
east  on  said  road  to  Cherry  Point ;  thence 
along  the  line  of  the  Lower  Wabash  Confer- 
ence to  the  place  of  beginning. 

Illinois  Conference. — Beginning  at  the  junc- 
tion of  the  Mississippi  and  Rock  rivers  ;  thence 
up  the  latter  stream  to  the  crossing  of  the  Rock 
Island  and  Peru  Railroad ;  thence  east  with 
said  railroad  to  Peru ;  thence  down  the  Illinois 


DISCIPLINE.  107 

River  to  its  mouth  ;  thence  np  the  Mississippi 
to  the  place  of  beginning. 

Ce7itral  Illhwis  Conference. — Beginning  at 
Peru,  on  the  Ilhnois  River  ;  thence  up  the  Ilh- 
nois  River  to  the  mouth  of  the  Kankakee 
River  ;  thence  to  Kankakee  City  ;  thence  with 
the  Chicago  Branch  of  the  Ilhnois  Central 
Railroad  to  Tolono  ;  thence  with  the  Great 
Western  Railway  to  Bement ;  thence  direct  to 
Shelbyville  ;  thence  down  the  Okaw  River  to 
Vandalia  ;  thence  direct  to  the  mouth  of  the 
Illinois  River ;  thence  up  said  river  to  the 
place  of  beginning. 

Rock  River  Conference. — Beginning  at  the 
junction  of  the  Mississippi  and  Rock  rivers  ; 
thence  east  with  the  Illinois  Conference  line,  as 
above  described,  to  Kankakee  City,  Illinois  ; 
thence  to  the  state  line  between  Illinois  and 
Indiana ;  thence  north  on  said  line  to  Lake 
Michigan  ;  thence  along  the  shore  of  said  lake, 
north,  to  the  line  between  Illinois  and  Wiscon- 
sin ;  thence  west  with  said  line  to  the  Missis- 
sippi River ;  thence  down  said  river  to  the 
place  of  beginning. 

Wisconsin  Conference. — Beginning  at  Mil- 
waukie,  Wisconsin  ;  thence  south  to  the  Illi- 
nois state  line  ;  thence  west  on  the  line  between 
Illinois  and  Wisconsin  to  the  Mississippi  River; 


108  DISCIPLINE. 

thence  up  said  river  and  the  Wisconsin  state 
hne  to  Lake  Superior  ;  thence  with  the  shore 
of  said  lake  and  the  Michigan  and  Wisconsin 
state  line  to  the  Wisconsin  River  ;  thence  down 
said  river  to  Portage  City  ;  thence  along  the 
Watertown  and  Portage  City  Railroad  to 
W^atertown  ;  thence  along  the  Milwaukie  and 
Watertown  Railroad  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

Fox  River  Cotiference. — Beginning  at  Mil- 
waukie, Wisconsin;  thence  by  the  railroad  lines 
to  Watertown  and  Portage  City;  thence  up  the 
Wisconsin  River  to  the  Michigan  state  line; 
thence  with  the  state  lines  south-east,  and  the 
western  shore  of  Lake  Michigan  to  the  place 
of  beginning. 

Minnesota  Conference. — Bounded  by  the 
state  lines. 

Iowa  Conference. — Beginning  at  the  junction 
of  the  Mississippi  and  Iowa  rivers  ;  thence  up 
Iowa  River  to  the  southern  boundary  line  of 
North  Iowa  Conference;  thence  east  and  south 
with  said  line  to  the  Mississippi  River ;  thence 
with  said  river  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

North  Iowa  Co?tference. — Beginning  on  the 
Mississippi  River  with  the  north  line  of  the 
State  of  Iowa;  thence  due  west  on  said  line  to 
the  west  line  of  Winnebago  County;  thence 
due  south  to  the  Dubuque  and  Sioux  City  Rail- 


DISCIPLINE.  109 

road  line;  thence  east  to  the  west  line  of  Dela- 
ware County;  thence  due  south  to  the  south 
line  of  township  numbered  86;  thence  due  east 
along  said  townsliip  line  to  the  Mississippi 
River;  thence  aloi^.g  said  river  to  the  place  of 
beginning. 

East  Des  Moines  Con/t^renc-e.-^-Begmmng  at 
(  Ihe  mouth  of  the  Iowa  River;  thence  up  said 
river  to  the  east  line  of  Marshall  County, 
Iowa;  thence  south  to  the  Mahaska  County 
line;  thence  west  to  the  corner  of  said  county; 
thence  south  to  the  Des  Moines  River;  thence 
up  said  river  to  White  Breast  Creek;  thence  up 
said  creek  to  the  west  line  of  Marion  County  ; 
thence  south  to  the  corner  of  said  county; 
thence  south-west  to  the  Wayne  County  line, 
six  miles  east  of  the  north-west  corner  of  said 
county;  thence  south  twelve  miles;  thence  west 
six  miles;  thence  south  to  the  Missouri  state 
line;  thence  east  on  the  line  between  Iowa  and 
Missouri  to  the  Mississippi  River;  thence  up 
said  river  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

I'Vest  Des  Momes  Conference. — Beginning  at 
the  north-west  corner  of  Monona  County  ; 
thence  east  to  the  north-east  corner  of  Marshall 
County;  thence  south  on  the  line  of  East  Des 
Moines  Conference  to  the  Missouri  state  line ; 
thence  west  to   the   south-west  corner  of  the 


110  DISCIPLINE. 

State  of  Iowa;  thence  along  the  west  hne  of  the 
state  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

Missouri  Conference. — Embraces  all  that  part 
of  the  State  of  Missouri  lying  north  of  the  Mis- 
souri River. 

Kansas  Conference. — Includes  all  of  the  State 
of  Kansas  lying  north  of  a  line  running  due 
west  from  the  north-east  corner  of  Linn  Coun- 
ty in  Kansas. 

Ontario  Conference. — Includes  all  of  the  Prov- 
ince of  Ontario  in  the  Dominion  of  Canada. 

Oregon  Co^iferetice. — Includes  in  its  territory 
all  of  that  portion  of  country  lying  west  of  the 
Cascade  range  of  mountains,  both  in  Oregon 
and  Washington  Territory. 

Calif or?iia  Conference. — Includes  the  State  of 
California. 

Walla  Walla  Conference. — Includes  all  that 
portion  of  Oregon  and  Washington  Territory 
lying  east  of  the  Cascade  Mountains,  and  also 
Idaho  Territory. 

Nebraska  Conference.  —  Beginn  ing  at  the 
south-west  corner  of  Nuckells  County;  thence 
due  north  on  the  west  line  of  Nuckells,  Clay> 
and  Hamilton  counties  to  the  Union  Pacific 
Railroad  ;  thence  with  said  railroad  to  Free- 
mont;  thence  to  Blair  on  the  Missouri  River; 
thence  down  said  river  to  the  south-east  corner 


DISCIPLINE.  Ill 

of  the  State  of  Nebraska;  thence  west  to  the 
place  of  beginning. 

Osage  Conferejice. — Embraces  all  of  the 
State  of  Missouri  south  of  the  Missouri  River, 
and  all  of  the  State  of  Kansas  lying  south  of  a 
line  running  due  west  from  the  north-east  corner 
of  Linn  County  in  Kansas. 

Te7i7iessee  Conference. — Is  bounded  by  the 
Cumberland  and  Paint  Rock  mountains. 

Ohio  German  Conference. — Bounded  by  the 
state  lines  of  Ohio,  including  Covington  and 
Newport,  Kentucky,  and  the  German  works  in 
the  State  of  Indiana  and  south-eastern  Illinois; 
also  the  Parkersburg  German  circuit  in  West 
Virginia. 

East  German  Conference. — Embraces  all  the 
territory  in  Pennsylvania  and  Maryland  east  of 
the  Alleghany  Mountains, 


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Origin,  doctrine,  constitution,  and 

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